Fields of Heather

My Saturday in Pictures

2012-01-30T05:09:00.000-08:00

We drove an hour out of DC this saturday to Front Royal. The weather has been heavenly, so there is no better time to go sightseeing! Along the way I made some progress on the Nantes Hat, from the Winter 2011 issue of Interweave Knits. This one is going to be a gift, so I've thrown my other projects aside for this quick knit.

Entering the park

Posing over the Shenandoah Valley, elevation I'm guessing was about 2800 ft.

Hold those boys close!!

I'm also wearing my Sockhead Hat, a free pattern from BohoKnits. Pattern herehttp://bohoknits.blogspot.com/2009/05/sockhead-hat.html

It took forever, but I love it. To made it extra nerdy, I added two tassels on the top.

Spelunker Burgers and more...On our way to Luray Caverns.

Changing elevation, going underground, the Luray Caverns.

Cheese!!!

Nate as always, more than happy to be along for the ride.

D.C. Adventures

2012-01-26T05:29:00.001-08:00

Can't believe I almost forgot to post this one- the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian. A beautiful building, inside and out. We were not as impressed with the exhibits, but while chasing the boys it wasn't as easy to soak in. I can't explain exactly why. We haven't had that problem before.

They did, however, have a wonderful area dedicated to children. The boys got to explore there, and had a wonderful time. I must say, they were really well-behaved too, so a staff member favored them by pulling a few patches out of her pocket. Which coincidentally, we collect whenever we can.

I really loved this collection of spindle whorls from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Absolutely beautiful-the caption below says that personal spirit helpers are carved into them, instilling their power into the yarn and clothes that are created from it. Can I get me some of that?

Little P tried his hand at a bit of basket weaving.

Nathan tried a little bit of everything. He's at that age now. Nothing is safe.

Nothing.

And Little P would now like his own kayak. I'll start saving.

Make Believe

2012-01-25T06:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we lose sight of what's important.

Giving our kids everything they want, instead of the things they need.

So for little P's fifth birthday (not this guy, the other one!), we collected costumes, hats and props for a make-believe chest. Pirate hat, Dr.'s kit, an apron and chef's hat I found at Joanne's and a giant chest to collect it all. And sadly, our boys never had a cape. REALLY.

So a yard each of black and blue microfleece fabric, velcro fasteners so they can't get caught by the neck, and now the boys are ready to take on the world! Make some magic. Fly!!! Fight the villains! Climb coffee tables in a single bound!

And I feel like a better parent, to boot.

Since I had the trusty sewing machine out, I decided to make use of the scrap fabric from my mom and the yoga bags.

So, three bucks worth of fabric paint and some cord later....

Fun bags!! Har har.

Great way to keep the toys tidy, and easy to find when the boys want them. I made a bag for their musical toys, and another for their safety gear (helmets, elbow and knee pads). Again, feeling like a better parent...patting self on back...yup.

Museums are Amazing

2012-01-20T04:54:00.000-08:00

Did we just step out of a chinook?

Nate ran around this truck twice, pointing and exclaiming. That is pure boy-joy.

The great hall was awe-inspiring for kids AND grownups.

We finally took a quick trip to Quantico to visit the Marine Corps Museum. I wasn't totally thrilled, but my husband had a real desire to see it. Once we were there, I quickly realized this one was a total winner. It was designed to really engage you, veterans, civilians, young and old. You get to experience being picked up by the bus and being taken to Paris Island, getting screamed at by a male or female (!) drill instructor, testing out the gear a marine recruit has to carry, etc.

The next few exhibits are about the origins and history of the marines, blood and guts being set aside in favor of the pride and heroics of early U.S. marines. I was a little surprised to find myself so interested. The kids, not so much. However, the exhibits about our involvement in foreign affairs/conflicts were done so well, the kids were quickly entertained. Lots of things to pick up, listen to, trucks to OOOHH and AHHH over; every room had a different look (and once, a different temperature.)

We finished by breezing quickly through the 9/11 exhibit (still so fresh and terrible in our minds) and had lunch in the Tun Tavern upstairs. Cool. Very cool.

Another Thankful Thursday

2012-01-19T05:07:00.001-08:00

First I want to get this out of the way-my newest creations. Santa brought me a new yoga mat this year, and it took me all of two classes to realize I needed something to carry it. Something with pockets for my keys and water bottle. So this is the result of my quickie yoga bag design-let me know if you want to duplicate and I could create some directions. It took about one yard of the main fabric, 3/8 of a yard of the contrast, and some interfacing. But I feel really guilty claiming it as a 'design' since it is really just a simple sewn tube with a strap, give or take a few details. It was very easy and took about 45 mins to complete, so I made one for my hon too.

And can you catch a peek of those slim calves? I can take no credit, been eating like a pig. That's ALL yoga. Love it.

Now we get to the preachy part of my post.

I absolutely love the farmer's markets and fish markets. It absolutely disturbs, no pisses me off, that people will not identify what they eat with where and what the substance actually came from. It seems some have no problem consuming vast amounts of ground meat, chicken etc but will not roast a chicken, or eat ribs. It was explained to me (like how I'm staying vague on the identities here?) that anything 'on the bone' is disgusting. So, you can eat the animal. But as long as you pretend its not an animal? I get confused. I mean, if you can't stand to eat meat, then why do you eat twice as much as I do?

Preachy part over, read on.

So imagine my pleasure when we made a trip to the Eastern Market downtown, and picked up a whole red snapper. The whole thing. And the owner invited little P behind the counter and gave him a lesson on cleaning fish. It may have been because P was so polite, or perhaps because we were getting a thirty dolla' slab of fish! But he was a very good pupil. Then we took Red home, and I roasted him, head and all. Threw it on a plate. Even pointed out his tiny little teeth. And the boys ate it. Not the slightest bit namby-pamby about it. So proud.

Sorry Red! But for that delicious meal, we thank you!

We also bought some items we'd never cooked before.

Like homemade shrimp ravioli in bright colors. (Chuckled at overhearing some DC hipsters bicker over how to cook fresh squid ink pasta).

And rabbit and pork sausage. Last night that was cooked with some leftover pork and served on a bed of spaghetti squash. Sorry bunny. It was so savory, the boys ate it up too. Just love how they will try almost anything. Almost. But I really feel that since we are very adventurous meat-eaters, it is only fair my kids understand that food comes from an animal, not in neat little styrofoam trays at the supermarket. Especially when I am sure in Thailand there will be some of the craziest-looking seafood to ever grace our dinner plates. If they are not willing to try new things, our boys would miss out on so much!

With the yoga bags completed, the sewing machine will be busy the next few days with my latest; the imagination chest. Little P is turning 5 tomorrow. Oh MY. And still exploring all his new Christmas toys, so for his birthday we're making a chest full of costumes for imagination play and make-believe. I'm putting the finishing touches on his king/knight's costume with a cape and crown. You'll see. I'm also making "fun bags" (shaddap, don't laugh) to sort and store their toys.

A Very Thankful Thursday

2012-01-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

Kids snatch your heart. They grab it, carry it in every little trot of those chubby legs, every little sound that comes from their rosebud lips. I find myself all choked up a dozen times a day, caught up in a moment where I think over and over again my children are so beautiful. Its the most amazing feeling, and I'm glad I gave up work because I now get to feel this way all day. I am so thankful. Thought you should know that about me, because its never said aloud.

But I think two thoughts most of the day.

First, my children are so amazing it takes my breath away. Second, I am so lucky.

Chick Chorizo Soup

2012-01-09T05:31:00.001-08:00

Its funny how I stopped by Carole's blog today to find her Ten on Tuesday is about soups, when I had already planned on sharing my sunday night soup concoction. I love soup because you don't really have to follow any rules when throwing one together. This one was pretty much made up as I went along, and it turned out to be veddy veddy delish:

2 Cups Enriched egg noodles

2-3 boneless chicken breasts

3 chorizo links

2 cups loose leaf kale

1 small butternut or acorn squash, cubed

3 carrots, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

chicken broth, water

olive oil, salt and pepper

2 tsp Old Bay seasoning

While you bring a pot of the chicken broth and water to a boil, sautee squash in a saucepan with 1 tablespoon olive oil for about ten minutes. (Optional: I sprinkled with paprika and added a dash of minced garlic) Toss into soup pot with carrots, celery, Old Bay and a dash of sea salt. (Its good for you.)

Brown chorizo and chicken in the saucepan-this will render out some of the fat which you can either spoon away or use to flavor the soup. I really don't need any extra fat, so GONZO. When the meats are golden and well-browned, chop into large pieces and throw into your vat o goodness. Simmer ten mintes. Sip, taste, season to your liking.

Add noodles and bring back up to a boil. Cook five minutes, then toss in your kale. Add water at this point too if you have boiled off too much. Simmer five minutes, then serve. We like spicy food, so this was adulterated with some Pete's and some red pepper flakes. Perfect.

Might as well add my top soups to the list. In no particular order....

1. Pho Ga- maybe its the star anise, maybe its the basil, cilantro I don't know. But I get a craving for chicken pho almost every week.

2. Campbell's Tomato. Best. Hangover. Cure. Ever. (sorry mom and dad)

3. Muir Glen organic soups. I'm not plugging this brand on purpose, just did a focus group on them last year and loved all their soups.

4. Italian wedding soup. we all love it in this house.

5. Suki/Shabu. You have a pot of boiling broth. Raw meat and veggies. Swish it around, its fun to do and tastes wonderful. Add Sriracha and life is complete.

Any soup with Sriracha, for that matter.

6. Miso. Its pretty boring, but it usually means sushi is on the way. I get excited.

7. Split pea and ham.

8. Chicken tortilla. Can't resist this one.

9. Au Bon Pain makes a few of my faves-lentil soup, etc. Used to eat there every day.

10. I'm from Massachusetts, so it has to be New England Clam Chowda'. So unhealthy I actually only eat it once every few years, all that heavy cream....but when I do, I make sure to enjoy myself!

My Weekend in Instagram

2012-01-09T04:34:00.000-08:00

Hiking at Sky Meadow State Park.

Philip, a lollipop, and a vine to swing on. The outcome was better than expected.

Why does this remind me of the Wyeth piece, "Christina's World"?

We visit Arlington National Cemetery often. We walk and think, think and walk, and talk to our kids about service, sacrifice, pride, integrity.

Paid a visit to "The Great Emancipator" and Nathan goofed around. (Hat and matching sweater underneath by me, of course.)

Supped on some awesome soup. If I say so myself. Chix, chorizo, kale and winter squash.

Fabulous Friday

2012-01-06T05:41:00.005-08:00

Aren't they adorable?

Happy Weekend y'all!

Fable Mitts Part Dos

2012-01-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

Finished, wrapped and delivered to my husband's thai teacher before the holiday break. Ahhhh. Deep sigh of satisfaction!

I've been thinking about making a resolution this year. I usually never do-I mean, nothing ever knew. Everyday I try to do the same things, behave (whoops), eat healthy, love, forgive, spend less, etc. New Years day is not any different than any other day really. This year, instead, I have picked a word, a theme, a mantra or what you will. And this time next year I'd like to look back and see if this approach changed me and the way I handle, well, everything. So, since I tend to be too assertive and competetive in just about everything, the word is GENTLE.

GENTLE.

This year I'd like to grow personally and be more gentle in every way. With people. With my boys. Not every encounter and challenge is conquered with force or brute strength. Some of the people I admire the most pass through their days successfully with a totally different approach. Who knows, it may not work for me at all. But it couldn't hurt to develop a softer side to balance the aggressive in me.

I hope to read this post a year from now, and reflect upon the ways I have become more gentle. Balance, ya know?

New Year - New Beginnings

2012-01-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed, I've been tweaking the blog a bit. This really isn't my area of skill (but what is?) so bear with me while I work it out. Assuming we actually make it to Thailand this summer, I think there will be a lot to share. So hang in there-some day there will be more going on here than me just assailing you with pics of my kids and knitting. I swear.

Did I say knitting? Oh yes I did.

My mother has been enabling, I mean supplying me with her gorgeous homespun. Of course by the time I finish with it I have long forgotten what it was composed of or what color. So they all get tagged as "alpaca blend" and I make up my own color. This one I would call moss & bark, but feel free to disagree. These Fable Mitts are awesome-very handy to have in this mild Virginia weather, and quick knit to boot. I even made another pair the next week as a gift. But that's another day.

Fable Knits are a free pattern-you can find them on Ravelry of course, or here http://craftylittlesewnsew.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/free-knitting-pattern-fable-mitts/

I like being able to pick button accents, and might try designing a hat to match. They came in handy this sunday when we had a family outing into the district. It was muy muy chilly, so we didn't venture far, but our last stop was the gorgeous U.S. Botanic Gardens. Even in the winter, their outdoor gardens were stunning and we stopped for a gratuitous mitt shot at the arbor:

We caught their indoor train exhibit on THE VERY LAST DAY. Little P was out of his mind with joy-tracks everywhere, overhead and going through tunnels. It was amazing. There were little fairytale houses and palaces build out of plants and trees, whimsical tableaus, and Thomas the tank engine whipping throughout. I oohed and ahhed over the replica of Castle Neuschwanstein, which we once toured in Germany long long ago.

D.C. is proving to be full of surprises and gems!

It takes a Child to Raise a Village

2011-12-21T06:28:00.001-08:00

Living in a two bedroom temporary apartment with only 700 lb of belongings has been challenging. We face holidays with open minds and try to create the festivity and excitement-sans tree stand, stockings, etc.-for our boys. My initial goal during this year was live a life less cluttered by material things and come together as a foursome, learning to find fullfillment without, well, things.

I think it has been a rewarding experience so far, and has shaped our children into being less of the typical "I want it NOW" american kids, and more into being imaginative and creative. I would rather they look back to memories of things they made themselves, not things we bought them. So there have also been a lot of handmade gifts that will be bestowed on family this year, made with the messy little fingers of Little P and Nate. Salt dough ornaments and other memorabilia that I hope will be a big hit with the grandparents. And the boys learn the joy of giving this way, not with a credit card.

So maybe our holidays will be a bit more mis-matched than Martha Stewart, but who wants store-bought perfection anyways?

I saw on the Pottery Barn Kids holiday catalog cover a train display with a homemade cardboard village-very creative! However, we had the idea first! Ok, I can't take all the credit. I did see the tutorial for cereal box houses here: http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2009/12/cereal-box-house-tutorial.html

We followed her idea, then covered the houses in gift wrap. Bottle-brush trees, and glittery white felt pads followed for the scene. These were super cheap details we picked up at Micheals.

Little P had fun arranging tthe village on a ledge. Another day we played with glitter glue and pom-poms to decorate a few trees. Electric streetlamps followed, because I just couldn't resist. During a naptime, I tried to fashion a schoolhouse.

And finally, a string of Christmas lights made of felt. We had made snowman and reindeer puppets from felt (I'll share another time. They turned out quite well!) and I always keep my scraps. You just never know! So at least the string of lights I can claim is original.

I think.

DIY: Hearts on Your Sleeve

2011-12-19T04:22:00.000-08:00

Its not February yet, I know, but I've been REALLY yearning for one of those sweaters with heart patches on the elbows. Thank you, Pinterest! This would be a really cute valentine's day project to spruce up an old sweater or pair of jeans or maybe even a skirt.

Once I had all the supplies I needed, I couldn't put this project down. And once it was done, I wore it all weekend. The hubs knows what I'm like when I get my mind set on a project, so he didn't tease me at all. Not when I wore it to the Zoo saturday night. And again, when I couldn't help but wear it when we went out for pho. But I might wear it again today. Or tomorrow. Or as long as it takes until another living person says, "wow, where did you get that adorable sweater?!" Because the hearts make it scrumptious and slightly silly.

Step One, get yo' self a warm sweater that is not baggy in the sleeves. I picked up this wool sweater at Unique for five bucks. Point to Heather for being thrifty, yeah!

Step Two, pick a pretty color of corduroy fabric. Even better if you can find it in the remnant bin at your fabric store, because you only need a little-less than 1/8 of a yard (unless you have vrrrry big elbows). Cut two identical hearts in the proportion you like, and apply Fray Check to the edges. This was my first time cheating with the stuff, so I was a little heavy-handed. Oh well, live and learn.

Step Three, pin onto sleeves and stitch with a tapestry needle and matching embroidery thread. Mine didn't exactly match, but I used large stitches so it looks like it's supposed to be that way. Okay? Just humor me.

Saturday night we packed up the kids and took the train to the National Zoo for ZooLights, braving the weather and about a hundred drunken santas-seriously D.C.?

There were gorgeous holiday lights, and iceless skating rink, gingerbread barns, carollers, and a train display. Happy kids-see those adorable dimples? I took off my coat for a gratuitous sweater pic, that's how much I love this DIY. Now I must go, and pin my own project. Yay me.

Owls

2011-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late to the party, but finally jumping onto the owl bandwagon. Whoever first twisted their cables to create owly patterns is my hero. Super knitty hero. I have always had a thing for owls, dragging my kids over to the raptor exhibit at every country fair so I can see the beautiful birds with those bright eyes.

My mother sent a care package a few months ago, containing (among other wonderful things) a ball of hand spun green goodness-she doesn't exactly remember where it came from, but its super soft. I whipped up some fingerless mitts and had quite a bit leftover. Both the mitts and the coffee sleeve were such quick knits-I absolutely LOVE instant knitting gratification.

There are unfinished sweaters or big projects that need to be fixed in my knitting bag that have been siting there for around a year. Could have some gorgeous cardigans. Or perhaps find a purpose for those eight skeins of charcoal-colored yarn from Knit Picks that are going to waste. No, I get a thrill out of mittens. And coffee sleeves.

Owls. adorable. Pattern here: http://myknittingbasket.blogspot.com/2009/11/owl-coffee-cup-cozie.html

RECAP

2011-12-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

Hmm...what has happened since May? Well, we are seven months closer to Thailand, that's fer sher. What a long process! First we reunited with my dear hubby in July, ending what was probably the saddest, scariest, and loneliest year of our lives. I won't go into that, but it was nasty. Celebrated N's first birthday with a party on the beach. Took a looooong staycation and wrapped up some things. Then we started amovin' and ashakin'.

The house got packed up. We said goodbye to most of our belongings, as they would be in storage for the next ten months. Picked about 600lbs of necessities (it really isn't that much!) to keep with us in Virginia. And goodbye house. So sad.

Now on the market (overpriced I know, and attempted in vain) and soon to be for rent. Driving away was bittersweet-this was certainly not the house I saw ourselves living in for the rest of our lives, but it was a good place to live with our kids. Lots of space, a view of the ocean, fantastic neighbors, and lots of memories. We brought two babies back from the hospital to this home. That means a lot. And the next 15 years or so we will be moving every few years. For some, apparently this was difficult to understand. There was just a teensy bit of disapproval. Probably more than a teensy bit, but I wasn't really listening. All I heard was "blah blah blahblah...."

Spent quality time with family for one last week, then loaded the kids, canine, and clothes in the car and took a little drive down to northern Virginia. Lovely place. Really. Saturdays we drive out to the country somewhere and hike-Manassas, Harper's Ferry, etc. Philip makes friends with little creatures. Nathan enjoys the view. Myles romps for, well, miles. Sundays we head in to the District-almost everything is free, never crowded, and kid-friendly.

Living in a little apartment is not as challenging as I thought-the boys adapted right away. They don't even notice that their massive toy collection has disappeared with the exception of a few trucks and their Lincoln Logs. We have more fun making our own holiday decorations and gifts.

Like these nature impressions in clay. We attached magnets and sent them to the grandparents. It also led to a basic lesson in seeds and propagation.

After a hike at Great Falls, we created a spooky terrarium. Terrariums are cool, even cooler when you get a spooky inhabitant like the skeleton dude. But this required me stuffing moss and ferns into my bag while the guys kept a lookout. Please don't report me to the State Parks, but it was for the sake of education!!

We toured a gazillion monuments and museums. Cruised through Eastern Market, discovered new foods and a newfound love of pho. Seriously. Love it.

Christmas is now upon us, and we are already so settled in and happy that I know for certain this decision was for the best. No material things matter-we don't miss a thing. Seriously we didn't even bother with a Christmas tree. (But Philip and I did have some fun creating a christmas village out of cereal boxes.) Being together and raising our children with love, a sense of wonder and adventure, a healthy and active lifestyle, but mostly striking out on our own and being able to determine our own values without the influence of others has been for the best. We now live among a very diverse community, where no one feels the need to 'fit in.' The children are not your ordinary children. In fact, they are each extraordinary. For some, they get to this jumping-off point and realize its not for them at all. Luckily, for me it has been validating, and I feel reassured that taking the harder path was the best choice we have ever made.

Ten on Tuesday

2011-05-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

I usually don't participate in these, but after reading Carole's list of Ten Favorite Things to Do Outside I wanted to think about summier weather and make my own:

1. Seaglass Hunting. Its an addiction, I admit. But the charm of holding seaglass in your hand, or spotting a bright blue shard in the rocks is greater than precious jewelry to me. Jewelry just means you hand over your credit card. whoopee. Seaglass is something rare, a discovery.

2. Ice cream. Not for me, actually. But taking the kids for ice cream. I love it, don't misunderstand, but I love being skinny much more. That doesn't mean my boys should be deprived, and what kid doesn't have special memories of going to the ice cream stand, picking their favorite flavor, and getting handed a dripping cone?

3. The deck. Our has a limited view of the ocean, but you can always hear the waves. I love planting pots of scented geraniums on our deck, decorating it with colorful lanterns and cushions, reading out there, making a spritzer or cocktail and 'lounging'. Who doesn't love lounging? That brings me to 4.

4. GRILLING. Yeah this one deserves all caps. Need I say more.

5. Shopping. Thank you to the clever people who are designing shopping areas that are open, like Wrentham, Hingham, etc. Walking is good for you, people! So park in the farthest area of the lot and WALK.

6. Gossip. There is something about my neighborhood in the spring-you can't check your mail without bumping into a friendly neighbor. I love it. It feels like the hibernation is over and we all linger out front, catching up on the good, the bad, and the drunkies. heh heh.

7. Soccer momming. Yup I just made a word up. But its my blog and I throw spellcheck and grammar to the wind! Phooey! Soccer momming is the act of signing your tots up for a sport even though they don't have the slightest interest or clue in coordination or organized sports. This way you again, get out of hibernation, and socialize with other parents. I love it.

8. Weeds. I can now take my compulsive behavior out on the lawn. Going outside means I can take a spray bottle of weed zapper and wage war against dandelions. Unfortunately, this means my yard is scarred with dead dandelion pimples, but it felt good.

9. Sunroof! Yes folks, now you can all hear me singing Lady Gaga or having an argument with myself! Its fun to broadcast my craziness through an open sunroof on a sunny day drive. Is this really outside if I'm in a car? Who cares. My blog.

10. The Beach. Its only a 10 minute walk away from my house, so I'm there in the sun, the rain, the fog, and of course on many holidays. Ah memories.

Recharge, Restore, Restart

2011-04-22T07:14:00.001-07:00

Three weeks ago I folded up my two quilting projects and moved my sewing machine out
of the kitchen. After four long months, the mister was home for a visit. Briefly. But it was a great chance to reset our batteries, remember what its like to be a family, and just focus on the kids. To escape the madness, we ran away. GREAT IDEA.

One week in the lovely Dominican Republic-just what the doctor ordered. When we arrived, I was high-strung and Little P was bouncing off the walls. By the time we left we were all rested, easy-breezing, and totally mellowed out. Its amazing what a difference it made. The baby napped outdoors next to me, caressed by that amazing tropical breeze. We were waited on and served by the most kindly patient people ever. I even stopped caring that I was walking around in a bikini with my post-baby-bod (nobody cares there!)

Now the mister is back to work, I'm positively itchin' to finish my first quilt-now just to figure out where I left off! Back to Fabric.com to order some more Pretty Bird for the border, I believe. I'm also anxiously awaiting my mom's gift for Nathan-she has almost completed his baby quilt, and I can tell you it is totally, wait for it..... gorgeous. One can only aspire to such greatness and skill!!! I promise to share pictures and you will agree.

You have a baby.....in a bar!

Keeping the Balance

2011-03-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Its catch-up time in blogland-and there is a little bit of this, a little bit of that because I have been busy. You see, this time last year I had a BIG bun in the oven, a jet-setting husband, and a career that required a big commute. It wasn't going to work.

So I decided to keep the lovely bun, the husband of course. But 'sayonara' (?) to career. Yep. I did what I had thought I would NEVER do. Well, besides having kids in the first place. But so long law firm. So long lovely paycheck. So long 45-60min quiet time to myself each way, heh. But hello 24/7 supermom. No more dropping off a desparing teething infant at daycare, no more screeching out of the office lot to hopefully get to daycare by closing time, no more quickie bad meals, no more tearful stressed-out skypes with my husband. This is one really happy, well-adjusted household. There is balance. There is love. And learning for me. The choices we make regarding our children and their well-being are the most important.

Oh, but I get the added bonus of having time here aand there to make things, gifts, etc. Like these lovely rosetty bands for my nieces..

And playtime with fabric, like this snowball-squares quilt that will probably be a picnic blanket gifted to someone. I got the tutorial from the lovely blog Cluck Cluck Sew-she has great ideas, and loves to play with color like I do. And you make look at my layout here and think it doesn't make much sense, but to me it makes sense. In its irregularity and joyful colors it makes perfect sense to me.

Rosettes and Other Tutorials

2011-03-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

The internet is a great thing if you get the crafty urge and don't want to leave the house on a rainy day. Say you scrounge around your house and college some scrap fabric, a box of toothpicks, and a ball of lint? Simply go online and ask what you can make with this, and I bet you that ball of lint there would be a dozen tutorials out there, maybe by bloggernuts like me.

Well, I had that need last week, so with nothing but a glue gun and some scraps, I went on a rosettathon. Here's a few:

I have a niece who is cccrrrrrrrrazy about headbands, so that may be the direction those go. Either way, it took basically no skill. If you'd like to try I found a great tutorial here: http://bridgetbaxter.blogspot.com/2009/11/tattered-fabric-roses.html

Next on the drawing board, while I avoid my first quilt for a few days, is some seaglass art. The beach is just a few minutes away, so once a week I take Myles the happy dog for a walk so I can scan the beach for sea glass. This week I even found a little piece of broken pottery (the blue shard). We head home after an hour, my fingers frozen but pockets full. I bet there are a million tutorials on sea glass ideas....any suggestions?

Doing The Creative Funk

2011-03-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

Winter blahs are the least of my problems right now, but would you really want to hear me go on about my problems? The real ones? I'll spare you the details, but to sum it up, in about six months this blog will go into pre-expat status as we close down the house and move to a different state, a teensy apartment, an everlasting and extremely adventurous way of life. Its a welcome change. I swear. But all the little details that go along with it are enough to drive one crazy.

On the other hand, in the middle of this windy, bone-chilling February my mother at long last started to teach me her quilting craft. It means more to me than I can express-there is something about my mother's quilts that make us all beg, hoard, and yes sometimes steal her creations. Being able to sew and gift my very own quilts will be so much fun! So, driving away those winter blahs and the creative funk I fell into after making a dozen of those baby sets (that shall be another blog), I worked the brightest, loudest hues into this Disappearing Nine-Patch. My very first quilt. This week the blocks have been assembled, and its time to decide on the border and backing-suggestions are most welcome!

Wedgewood Blouse-Not So Blousy

2008-08-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Finally, I broke down and took a pathetic picture of my wedgewood blouse, knit in Berrocco's Ultra Alpaca, some leftovers from the cabled hoodie I knit for LBB last year. As usual, the torso is too short for my liking, due to someone not checking her guage as usual, but I like the fitted top.

Also notable, this was my first project with dreaded bobbles...And like all the othet things I feared before, lace, charts, complex cables, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Silly girl...

And speaking of silly, here's my silly party face at my adorable cousin's bachelorette. I know, I know-we're not supposed to show pictures of these events, but it really was a good time. The bacherorette was sweet, cute, and even when tipsy, dignified in a way that made me both proud of being in the same family, and embarrassed about what a mushy mess I was at mine over seven years ago. I wish I could have been as composed and cute as this little bride. Isn't she beautiful? Makes me just bubble over with happiness . She's going to look picture-perfect in a wedding gown. *sigh*

Empowered

2008-07-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

I got this forward in my email today-usually I ditch forwards like hot-cakes, but there were a few of these that made me go "hmm...I'm doing okay."

25 TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant. (okay, I can vouch that getting in better physical shape does wonders for your mood)

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to. (rrrrrriiiight....can I hire someone to do this for me?)

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the
following statement,
'My purpose is to __________ today.'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and
eat less food that is manufactured in plants. (fresh food, CHECK!)

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries,
wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. (CHECK!)

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day. (and to those who say I 'try too hard' go sit in your grumpy little corners)

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. (or to paraphrase, keep moving forward, move on, get over it, look ahead)

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince
and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. (Ramen?)

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. (I would love to tell some people that no one ever said life would be fair, but that sounds very trite.)

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. (I have never managed to hold a grudge longer than 48 hours...hehee)

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. (But some manage to put every word I say under a magnifying glass *ahem*)

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. (Exes? What exes?)

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. (Do they make this one in a bumper sticker?)

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. (And only you can make good things happen. Why not do that, and then do something nice for someone else too?)

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
'In five years, will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals EVERYTHING, in HIS time.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. (Some people dwell so much in misery, it seems they wait for the next bad thing to seize upon. Those people are their own worst enemies.)

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch.

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. (You probably have more than enough. Try downsizing a little-you'll appreciate what you have even more.)

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following
statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. (you lost me on this one....talk to the grey hairs....)

25. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.

So, I apologize for a non-knitty post, but I have two items in the works: one is a gift for a baby shower agaaaaain, and the other is the much sought-after version of the slouchy beret, a la fields of heather. Once its done I'll post the pictures and the pattern for FREE. Yay *ding ding ding*

And finally, have I mentioned I love my latest FO the Wedgewood Blouse? I just need to get my picture taken in it, which is challenging lately. Maybe I could teach my little lovebug how to use a camera, once he masters the potty, (not eating) crayons, and basic speach......

Beauty and the Beach

2008-07-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

So, to play a little catch up, I collected a few pictures of the projects finished in the last few months.
First is the Kai sweater I made for Miss Dina's baby shower gift, as I love love LOVED the one my mom made for us. I deviated from the pattern just a scootch, and left the collar a little more open by creating a split in the front. My version, unlike my mom's, was way too tight around the neck, and babies aren't fond of that! I'm still worried about how closed it was at the neck, but we'll have to see.

I don't remember the yarn, but maybe it will come to me, but the pattern I believe, is from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding. A fantastic book, one of the few that I have knit several objects from, and I will most likely go back to it again and again. Thanks for lending it, Momsky!
Second is a little set I created without a pattern, just because I loved the soft blue of this Lorna's Laces bulky. My husband thought it might look a bit girlie, so I added a few stripes on one sleeve to make it sportier. The hat was just because LBB looks so darn cute in accessories...
So we set off for the great holiday weekend, which begins with a bang on the 3rd down on our beach, with wild bonfires and a great display of fireworks. I usually spend the night keeping cityfolk from parking on my lawn and discarding their trash in our pretty little neighborhood. Its not fun, but at least the police shoo them away at a decent hour. I get the added bonus of a fresh supply of sea glass to hunt down and collect, after all their fun & games are over. Thanks tourists!

Color Me Amazed

2008-07-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

Hmm....Isn't technology terrific? So now I can do anything from my little cell phone; surf the internet, pay bills, navigate to Mars. Last week I decided it was high time to upgrade my phone, and when I checked my contract, lo and behold, it could have been done back in......2006. Shame on me.

So a week later this nifty little shiny black contraption is in my hands. And its shiny, and swirly, and makes funny sounds. And has moving graphic and pictures. And I am vvvvvery scared. So I stare at it for a few minutes, and then put it away for a few days. Not ready to commit just yet. (I have the same problem with my knitting projects, and every book of patterns currently in my posession)

But after a weekend of cautious 'getting to know one another', I'm sending photo messages to my hon, and WIP's to my email account. I'm saving personal pictures as my 'wallpaper' and poking in on my favorite websites over lunchbreak. And duble-checking the weather and tides before walking to the beach! And wondering if perhaps I should have scrapped the old digital camera, and spent a little extra for a phone with better pixels or whatchamacallits.

Well, anywhoooo, here's a fuzzy photo of my fuzzy Wedgewood Blouse, from Interweave Knits. I carefully checked the gage before beginning, but I believe its going to be very 'blousy,' and that seems to be the overall design. So that should be kinda sexy/cool with some superskinny jeans this fall. And its in ultra alpaca, so the yoke work will be softer and fuzzier, which I like much more than crisp cables and such. Those seem very old ladyish to me lately, and I'm favorite things that are soft and romantic. It goes along with the crazy long wavy hair that I'm struggling with, but more on that lata'

Back Again??

2008-02-20T05:34:00.001-08:00

Two months since my last post?! How embarrassing! Even with a new digital camera from Christmas! Well, here's a quick catch-up from new-mommy-and-job-land:

First we have some clawing and pushing and nagging and lots of fingernail-biting over the last several months to get Mr. fieldsofheather the job of his dreams. And that was no small feat with all the reports and paperwork that our physician failed to complete, which ended up with me banging on his office door at 8AM with threats of violence (don't worry, no knitting needles were involved.)

Second, we have LBB turning ONE. I celebrated mostly because I couldn't beleive I have been a halfway decent mommy so far. Of course the celebrating came too soon, as LBB encountered his first ear infection that weekend, and I was too clueless to understand what was going on for a few days. Bad mommy.

Then we have some reading, and some daydreaming over Stephanie Japel's "Fitted Knits" book, none of which has come to fruition. I'm still mulling over my next ME-ME-All-about-ME project, while working on some baby shower gifts. Priorities, ya know!

Hmm...throw in some philosophy ("Plato and a Platypus" really good night-time reading), some home decorating (more on that later), and one of my favorite new developments, this old bookcase that was scavenged from a local school and remodeled by Mr. to house all my knitting 'stuff.' I absolutely love it, but need to reorganize all my books and yarn to look a little more crafty and neat. Its still have to make things managable with a little boy wobbling around, but its certainly getting a lot easier than those first few months! Hopefully, I'll be able to reconnect with my the bloggers I admire so much, and reconnect with my own desire for handiwork. *Big sigh!*

True Love

2007-12-21T08:42:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays to you all, and thank you for the birthday wishes for my momski! I have been deliberating over my next mission, and think I finally have a solution to that extra three skeins of red alpaca in my stash. Its knit in one piece, on size 8 circulars, and has that cutesy feel that I just adore. Thank god for knitty:

I'm going to cast on this weekend. And away we go!

Happy Birthday!!

2007-12-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Blogless Sharon!!

Pre-Christmas Madness

2007-12-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

Crunch time.

I'm not kidding. The monthly bills are due. The fridge is embarrassingly empty. I haven't had a free moment to food shop. We're living on Kraft Mac & Cheese. But after some furious penmanship, the Christmas cards are done, the extra cards ready and waiting for those "oopsies" that I forgot to send the first time 'round. (You know you do it too-don't even try to say you don't!)

I stress the holidays a bit too much,-either I go way too far, or not enough. This year, I fear, may be one of those overboard years. If you don't know why, let me give you a hint; he's about 20 pounds, smells like bananas, and only says "ta-ta-tah!"

Not only having LBB to shop for, but the holidays are heaven to me. If you have met me, you might know that I am 'jubilant' and 'quirky', and that's according to the people who like me...so during Christmas I am in my prime. Around that time its permissible to sing out loud, even if its limited to holiday tunes, splurge on small wind-up toys that hop and flip, wear seasonal themed sweaters or in my case, envy the people who daringly do, and drink syrupy sweet eggnog drinks. I dance around the house in my pjs at noon. I sing along to Mariah's "All I Want for Christmas is You" at the top of my lungs. I bake biscotti in the hundreds, and experiment with different flavors (pumpkin was NOT good) and dipping in all kinds of chocolate. And baking more biscotti. Why, I do not know. Probably because its hard to get biscotti wrong. And it sounds fancy.

So its only the 3rd, and already I'm embracing my inner elf. Are you?

Lusty Me!

2007-11-29T18:27:00.000-08:00

Hummana hummana hummana

Having a child, among other parts of becoming a 'grownup', means that you have someone else you really wish to indulge in. I don't acquire new knitting goodies very often anymore, since I'm more likely to be caught browsing the sale rack at Baby Gap rather than my beloved LYS. (With the exception of some Debbie Bliss yarn and some gorgeous patterns that have been donated by Blogless Sharon, since she needs more room in her house for her own fleece and homespun! Thanks Mom!!) So I just wanted to share the lusty, hungry eyes I was sportin' a few weeks ago, when my cable dictionary, the Vogue Stitionary, finally arrived. It was pure yarnasm, I swear. Seconds after this photo was taken, I had delved into an enclosed cable pattern for my little croppy vest. (Still in progress, since I am in the throes of holiday shopping and decorating.)

Me likey.

By the way, me also likey Etsy. Positively addicted to handmade stuff. Someone PLEASE take my credit card away!

Time Flies

2007-11-14T17:48:00.000-08:00

Something no one told me before LBB was born: time FLIES when you have a child. I swear that on Monday before I went to work he was gurgling, drooling, and banging his toys against his big head. Just seconds later, or maybe a few days, he's teaching me dance moves, clapping his hands to get our attention, and rearranging the furniture to his liking.

So its normal I suppose that since we can't prolong the adorable babyhood, I find myself wishing for another one. I know. What the deuce am I thinking? Anyhow, I was just informed that one of my buds who also has a little one under a year old is expecting again! Sooooo jealous. Well, that won't be me again for a little while, but I am truly excited for her.

Also excited for little Phil to wear the yummy red cardigan Blogless Sharon made for him-mom, want to let us know what that cool yarn is? I absolutely love it, especially the rolled collar.

I also finished his Oz vest, (from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms) just something whipped up from good old Lion Brand wool, and a bit too late I must say. It fits him pretty snug, so we'll only get a few weeks of use out of it...Note to self: knit several sizes larger!!!

But Can She Wear Boots?

2007-11-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

I am still designing off the top of my head the croppy vest that was begun several weeks ago. It’s filling the time while I deliberate over which floppy hat pattern to use-there are just so many cute ones out there. I am so torn, but I think I may go with Gretelhttp://ysolda.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3
In the meantime, I have begun the back of my vest, deciding finally on a rounded band over the neck and shoulders that dips lower in the front. On order is Vogue’s Stitionary, Vol. 2 so I can pick out a gorgeous cable pattern that will stretch well over the shoulders and bust. We’ll see how it goes-even if it is relegated to my collection of never-to-be-worn FO’s I will share my pattern. But you must keep in mind that I am designing it for my figure, which I am sorry to say resembles that of a 12-year old girl lately. Optimistically speaking, it might turn out to be perfect for your teenage sister. Ha.

But the feminine musing of the day involves boots. Boots. My passion for fashion has been dulled this year since nothing looks good on me lately, no matter how carefully I search. However, the lust for shoes is never affected by weight gain or loss. My lust for boots though, has tormented me for ages. Seven years ago I had a pair of stacked knee-high black boots that I wore proudly, until being hollered at crudely by some scumbag in a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot. Since I really value the elements of class and dignity, it mortified me. To think that I might look sleazy! Words could not express my shame, and the boots were tossed. I dreaded ever attracting that sort of attention, and took steps to avoid any manner of dress that may directly OR inadvertently send the wrong message.
It’s been a long time, and though I envy the girls who pull off boots, I have been ever so fearful of wearing them myself. So it was with all the courage I could muster that I grabbed those shiny knee-high boots off the shelf this week, paid out the dough, and prayed they would get more than a few wearings before I get mortified again. Tentatively, they have survived a day at the office (but I confess I have a backup pair of heels in the car) and no one yet has screamed, “Oh my gawd!” or whispered in my vicinity enough to make me self-conscious. Maybe the curse of the crude DD van man is finally broken.

ZAP

2007-10-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

That might have been the sound my television made at 2AM on thursday before it died a not-so-glorious death. I'm not exactly sure because I was too busy huddled on the floor in the center of my living room with a frightened infant and a cowering dog trying to climb into my lap at the same time. We had a freak lightning storm that night, which knocked out the power at our house, and filled it instead with creepy flashes of light.

At that moment it occured to me that "The Nightmare Before Christmas" type of halloween decorations we had picked up at HomeGoods were not the best choice.

Things I enjoyed during a weekend of no TV:
Depending on the good ol' radio for ambient noise
Staying up late for stimulating conversation rather than late night comedy
Facing the other people in the room with you, rather than straight ahead at the tube

I'm also brainstorming a little knitting project-nothing has quite grabbed me yet for my next project, so I'm going to play with some gorgeous sportweight from Foxfire in "Russian Sage." The idea forming in my mind is some kind of fitted croppy vesty thingie. We'll see how it turns out. The handpaint is just beautiful, and feel fantastic to knit with. How spoiled I am!

I also whipped up a toddler hat for the winter in Blue Sky cotton. There's just one problem; I can't get him to leave it on his head. Not even long enough to nab a photograph!

2007-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Color me happy. Would you like to know why? The Christmas cabled sweater is done-but guessing by the size of its recipient, I had better start calling it the Thanksgiving cabled sweater.

So tonight I've been thinking about things-happy thoughts really. Mostly. Because other than almost always having an immediate family member situated in a COMBAT ZONE, I'm pretty fortunate. Life is good. I love my life, my husband, my silly child. I have amazing family and friends. My job kicks ass. My mother and father have an unending supply of 'moo' for us. Heehee. In general, health, no wealth, but plenty of blessings. Yet, I know a few people who have similar lives who consider themselves not so lucky. It just amazes me, but even worse, pisses me the hell off. So I'm going to blow off some steam today. I mean, honestly, the nearest men in my life have gone to war, lived in intolerable heat and other conditions, worked the most challenging hours, and lived over A YEAR away from the ones they loved, and I don't EVER remember hearing them complain as much as some of the spoiled, self-absorbed people I talk to day-to-day.

Okay, I just deleted about four paragraphs worth of venting-believe me. The point is-well there is no point. Just thank God for what you do have. If you are sick or suffering, my heart goes out to you. But if you have health and someone who loves you, just thank your lucky stars. I have worked for people in worse situations. And even though I'm working in a new area entirely, I can't stop thinking about those people I used to work for. Just can't shake it. Then to hear able-bodied people complain about fatigue and sound generally miserable. Well, I guess tonight is my 'just deal with it' post. Does anyone else ever get irked like this?

Seasonal

2007-09-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Knitting is on the upswing too-in a few days I'll be able to post two FO's for the babbakins, basically the only items I have been able to focus on since the birth back in January! How some of you do all this, and spin is beyond me. A little detour into baby-beanie land helped to break up the monotony, and also whittle away at my stash. Above, I had a ball of Blue Sky organic cotton that Blogless Sharon had given me along with that super Kai sweater, and I wanted to make a hat with a frosty white trim. I also had some leftover homespun from her farm- Perfect! So that was cast on this morning. I also whipped up in some random blue cotton the pinwheel beanie from Just Jussi. He won't let it stay on his head just yet, but I'm hoping to teach him to keep his noggin warm with this by the end of October!

Just look at those baby blues.....they might even cure me of my blues. Hopefully.

Stylin'

2007-09-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe a month has passed.

So much has happened-LBB is crawling, smiling, laughing, playing with toy trucks, I'm working full time at a fantastic new firm, the Fall is here, with its beautiful crisp nights, and last night was a wedding we had anxiously awaited all summer long. It was by far one of the most stressful weddings I have ever heard of, although I wasn't one of the people affected by it. When all is said and done, I sincerely hope the bride and groom were pleased, because it turned out to be a beautiful affair.

That being said, I must admit that stretching these wedding nights out for as long and for as much enjoyment as possible is an art form practiced by my hunny, so we mosied over to the nearby wine bar to meet up with some friends and recap the events of the evening. After all, three hours in the stylists chair that morning was not going to be wasted by going to bed early! I felt absolutely gorgeous, tipsy, and ready to sip something better than the cheap-o merlot I had been downing all night, and nibble on bruschetta and olives. All in all, a perfect night.

And of course, I have some progress to report on my projects. The Geordie vest is being finished off, I cast on a simple winter hat for LBB this week, and finally am working on the hoodie for his endlessly cabled Christmas s

weater. And since the little pumpkin has just undergone a growth spurt and shot up to a size 12, I might be just in the nick of time to complete it. Maybe if you could throw a little encouragement my way, I might be spurred on enough to complete those last few rows....help me!

The Angry Eggplant

2007-08-20T09:25:00.001-07:00

Sadly, I did not finish the cabled christmas sweater in time...So this saturday as we loped into the agricultural and craft exhibits at the Marshfield Fair, I was doubly disappointed. Where were the bloggers? I didn't recognize any of the FO's, nor names. It appears we have all reached the summer lows, which isn't a bad thing. It just seems like we have all reached the epitome of relaxation. And perhaps just a bit of elan.

This lovely vegetable sculpture was worth the trip, though. Behold the menacing eggplant. This is one vegetable you don't want to mess with!

There was also some chicanery at the national guard tent. Gunnery Sgt FieldsofHeather took position, aimed, and fired upon (in her imagination anyways) some 30 year old women who were innappropriately dressed in stretch jeans, belly shirts, and tramp stamps. Gotta love the locals.

Upon returning home, I self-medicated with two episodes of What Not to Wear on TLC and went to bed, feeling much better.

Mid-Summer Ramble

2007-08-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

I have been rambling a lot lately. Rambling with the stroller to the beach. Roaming in the car to the Cape. Wandering aimlessly down the aisles at TJMaxx, hair disheveled, like a crazy woman who missed the bus. Hell, I have really missed the bus. I didn't feel like crowing about it last month, but I resigned my position as training coordinator whatnot at the firm. Walked out. Threw in the towel. Quit.

I won't go into detail, but I wish I could scream at my team leader, YOU CANNOT DO 50 HOURS OF WORK IN JUST 30!!!!!! WHILE TRAINING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE. You just can't. I'm not superwoman. And that "nice way" about me, which was the reason I landed this promotion in the first place? It went right out the window after three months of that shit. Four years of flawless, dedicated work and I'm moving on. What a waste.

There is a silver lining, of course. My house is clean. The beach is my daily retreat. I may be actually learning how to cook. Behold a crookneck squash (from the farm of course) stuffed with rice, ground turkey, parma, and assorted fresh herbs! No recipe! Just whipped it all up, and served it for dinner. And nobody needed a call to poison control!

And since July our son has suddenly learned to crawl, sit unsupported, pull himself up and climb things (or people) and do quantum physics. Ok, maybe not that last part, but he IS doing much better with all the attention he gets from moi.

Now knitting. Cheating on your diet: Bad. Cheating on your one WIP: very good. I have learned in the last few weeks that you need a break every now and then from continuous cable hell. So there's a cutesy tootsy vest for LBB in the works, just from some cheapo Lamb's Pride wool. I still prefer playing with LBB to knitting, so I just get a few rows in whenever he naps. But now I am back on a roll...just like him. Phew.

But I like to cheat. Oh yes I do. Don't tell.

Down on the Farm

2007-08-08T05:25:00.000-07:00

Project monogamy is SO over-rated. I've finally determined the main cause of the baby christmas sweater ordeal is that I'm working on nothing else!

But more on that later...One little tidbit you might not expect from a pixie-mama, stiletto heel-wearing chickadee like me-I really did grow up on a farm. Mucked stalls, rode horses, and even helped with weeding the ol' veggies once or twice. Now I'm not saying I loved every minute of it. But I did learn that the rewards were well worth all that hard work.

The farm is still there, and going strong under the care of my parents. It was originally owned by a farmer named Japhet Allen in 1776. Although there have been many improvements and neccessary modifcations, the original structures are still standing. Not bad for a colonial farmer who also fought in the Revolutionary War in his spare time. Is this beginning to sound familiar? If he had only practiced a bit o' medicine in his spare time, perhaps a few sutures on the kitchen table, the resemblance would be more striking.

Well, we are not related to Mr. Allen, but it is interesting to know who built and lived in that farmhouse over 220 years ago. With the help of Doc & Blogless Sharon's crafty friends, a logo was created for the farm and embroidered on shirts for them to wear proudly. Wish I had a close up, but you'll just have to hang tight. And admire this ruggedly handsome fella.

She Who Was Formerly Blogless

2007-07-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Someone is thinking of finally starting a blog of her own. I won't say who, but you probably already know. If you haven't guessed who I speak of, here are a few hints. They're also reasons why she MUST blog whether she likes it or not! For instance:

She has recently acquired two gentle furry friends of the alpaca variety.

She also has the angora bunbuns (and I'm not saying she has a furry caboose).

She has leaping lambs.

And if that's not enough, wouldn't you just love to hear about the antics of an eccentric world-traveling, motorcylemama, spinner, knitter-enthusiast who lives on a wacky farm with a hay-obsessed doctor-come-farmer husband and their three disfunctional kids?

There is a problem. What to name such a blog....any suggestions?

Six Painted Toes

2007-07-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

Ahh summer.

The time for flip flops. Tank tops. Drinks in an open-air bar on the waterfront.

Where was I? Oh, summer. The time for...

weddings.

I love them. I love brides, centerpieces, bouquets, you name it. What I don't like? Picking out something to wear, mucking with my hair, shoes, and the like. My favorite wedding hands-down was held on a remote island in Maine, where we danced the night away on the beach in summer clothes and bare feet. Kicked ass.

So halfway to this latest wedding I realized my new momy status had resulted in horribly neglected toes. We quickly stopped at CVS, and in the car I hastily laquered my chipped toenails. The three that were visible in my open-toed heels.

A few days later, we were sunning our buns on York Beach in Maine, laughing at my six painted toes.

I am sooo lazy.

(I have also included the crime-scene photographs from the reception. One sugar-coated bride and groom disappeared suddenly friday night. Their whereabouts are presently unknown.)

Don't Forget!

2007-07-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

August 10th and 11th in Bahhhston

Regatta, Tent Parties, Silent Auction.

Knitting with Pigtails

2007-07-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day and a nice break from work. Our town is just a mess during the 4th-residents usually duck out of town if they're smart, or perhaps venture out only during daylight. We tried valiantly to stick it out during the wet weather, but just minutes shy of the fireworks, decided to return home and have a nice dry evening. I was happy enough to watch the Pops and Keith Lockhart play at the hatchshell. (Country bumpkin that I am, I was thrilled to hear them play Adagio for Strings by S. Barber, one of my favorite pieces of all time.)

Scout was beside himself with the noise, so we were happy to stay home and comfort him as well.

On another note, one of my most beloved is having an echocardiogram today, which had me thinking on the way into work today. Why do we put so much pressure on the powers of the heart? We credit love, passion, hate and all sorts of emotional currents on this one organ, and I don't understand why. The heart is the strongest muscle in the human body, and for the most part, is the most dependable, unflinching piece of human machinery there is.

So why do we credit, or blame I should say, the mostly flimsy of human emotions on this part of ourselves? Why not blame love on the eyes, that draw conclusions so quickly? Or perhaps on our lungs, which seem to stop and shudder when we feel desire? But no, we look to the heart, the engine that just pump pump pumps away. I find nothing related to human passions when I think of cardiology, except perhaps from the rushing of one's blood when we are excited by anger or adoration. But that's blood. And when it is felt, it is felt throughout our entire being. Not just in the center of our chest. Hmm.

When I think of my heart, I feel more of the perfection of the human body as a whole, the symphony of organs and how they function together so perfectly. The heart is the engine, which makes the thought of it failing so frightening to me. But I certainly don't connect it with the feelings of love, hate, and passion. These are our imperfections. And the differences and weaknesses in ourselves that stop life from being just a stream of processes, day in, and day out. Emotions cause jarring changes and pauses in the pattern of life, changes in direction, and then perhaps a reason to live altogether. The heart beats incessantly whether or not we fall in love, fall out of love, or have unrequited love.

When the cat's away, the mice shall play

2007-07-03T07:32:00.001-07:00

I discovered these on my camera. This is what happens when you leave your child with your husband for a wee bit too long. Some kind of crazy crib games may occur.

So we live in a lovely neighborhood. Really. Our neighbors are all wonderful, considerate, and respect our privacy. However (and it is a big however) it is a very small neighborhood. I don't mind this, since it makes me feel watched over, safe, and a little protected. But not much of our comings and goings escapes our neighbors. One in particular has a great deal of time on her hands, and has created a great many theories about the families on all sides of us. Tales of abuse, love affairs, and crime. I find it all really interesting and humorous really. I can only imagine what is said about us!

But my husband had a visit from this particular person while I was out 'n about. Now I had warned him, but he got quite the earful. It could have something to do with her rambunctious 23 year old son setting off fireworks in the street last week. Perhaps she came over to throw up a smokescreen... sure if we are preoccupied with that story about the time the SWAT team raided our neighbors house, this little offense might not seem so bad...

But i digress...

My point today is that I'm grateful- it may seem almost intrusive when my neighbors mention anything about the hours we keep, or the sounds we make (must remember to close some of those windows). But I've learned to appreciate these things. Its far better living alongside people who have an inerest in us-I would never want to live in the city, where your neighbors barely know your name, or simply don't need to.

Its nice to know the people who live alongside you would perhaps worry if they saw no sign of life coming from your home that day. Or might notice any sign of distress in the middle of the night. Its funny to think, but many of my friends would not notice for weeks if I disappeared. But my neighbors would.

Now if their grown kids would just move out, I would be so much happier...

My Little Blob

2007-06-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

It is so funny how unblobby he has become lately. In fact, he's getting so darn good at amusing himself that I am quickly running out of excuses for not knitting. The best reason at this time is that he is in the habit of grabbing anything nearby and coating it immediately with baby slime.

He's also a magnet for anything and everything furry, which clings to his little chin like whickers, so my favorite fuzzy alpaca blends are not a good selection at this time. Nonetheless, while I may not be entering anything fabulous at the upcoming fairs this summer, I really look forward to seeing what everyone else submits.

On a different topic, shall we say 'scatterbrain,' for the umpteenth time this year, I have walked into work and realized that I put on the wrong color pants. In the dark this morning, I thought I was matching brown on brown. One hour, a cup of MaryLou's, and some neon lighting later I see the pants are black. The shoes are brown. Oh mercy.

To the Zoo

2007-06-21T06:21:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how many kinds of animal fur can be spun? This question was posed at least once or twice last week. With giraffe, bison, longhorn, camels; you name it. So I'm just throwing that in so there is at least something knit-related on here.

The Roger Williams Park Zoo is a fantastic place for kids. And adults. I can't remember ever going to a zoo, so when Blogless Sharon suggested we play hooky last week I was up for it. LBB was too, but since it was so hot most of the critters were laying in the shade. And that was not so fascinating for an infant who is accustomed to bells, whistles, and a mommy that perpetually jumps around and dances in order to win his smiles. (I admit it. I'm a smilaholic.)

But we put on our best safari outfits. And spied on the cheetah, wildebeest, and even a few of those tail-less monkeys. The name escapes me now, but they were cute.

We prowled the gift shop until LBB picked out a stuffed penguin by gummiffication.

gummiffication (n) the process in which an infant pulls multiple items of interest off shelves in order to find a toy of preference. This selection is usually indicated by a large dollop of drool placed on the object.

2007-06-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

I left my damn camera at home! If I hadn't, you would see crazy babe and bloglessSharon with wild animals. But you will soon. I promise. And I will be here more often. Another promise.

So I was talking about kids with someone this weekend, which I constantly do now that I have one. You would think I was the expert on mommyhood the way i talk, but really am more an example of what NOT to do. I'm sure other parents are horrified by us. But we lucked out. Somehow we ended up with a foolproof child, and no matter how hard I try to screw this parenting thing up, the more wonderful he is. Or maybe he's just a nut like me, which is wonderful in my eyes.

But I was sayin' KIDS.

Aw hell. Lost my train of thought.

Just look at the cute baby.

And I'll find something knitworthy to talk about tomorrow.

An Enigmatic Post

2007-06-05T05:41:00.001-07:00

Hello from the land of non-blog. Its been a tumultuous few weeks, filled with developmental changes in LBB, family drama, work work work, fun times with friends, and least of all, knitting. I'm resuming my work on the hooded sweater for baby's first christmas, in hope of entering it in the Barnstable County Fair, since their critieria includes the work be done sometime in the past year. Yah, I'm sure people cheat, but to maintain my own integrity, I'd like to stick to the rules. And the other projects I have done this year have been mostly quick, simple stuff-hats, scarves, arm warmers. However, with the sleeves and hood to go, and very little time to do it (basically during naptime) it is a bit up in the air.

My little sweatpea is wonderful as ever- healthy, strong, and extremely energetic. He now eats a bit of rice cereal every day, but mostly to oblige his parents. He still prefers the buuub, which is just fine with me, since it is easiest on his tummy. He also has discovered his voice and the ability to rise and drop in pitch, which he does in a hilarious parrot-like sqwauuuck for hours at a time.

And of course, much to my excitement he has developed great manual dexterity, and can now use one hand to hold or steady an object while he manipulates it with the other hand, so he can grasp, shake, and spin his toys without smacking himself in the face constantly. It gives me great hope that we may someday be sitting in a mommy-and-me violin class. If he likes that. I won't make him. Um.

He also sleeps quite peacefully through the night.

But with all this wonder and beauty in my life, there are also some challenges. I have a big "WWJD" test ahead of me-a moral dilemma you might say. In fact, when I look at my life aside from these troubles I can say that every week is quite clear, uncluttered, and pleasant. My home is a beautiful sanctuary by the sea-with a wonderful loving husband, and beautiful son. If you would permit me to get a bit Christian on yo' I would say that all of a sudden my life has been disrupted by something villainous and quite evil. The question is, what part of this is the actual evil? The source that has passed on rumors or information and thereby raised this wicked speculation in my mind? Or the people or subject in question? One of them is cruel, awful, and deceitful. But which one? I've been trying for weeks to wrap my mind around this, and what to do.

One thing is certain, the wrong thing for me to do at this point would be to walk away. The implications this has raised are terrible, that to not find out the truth I would inadvertently be causing someone great harm. To look the other way would be wrong. I'm hoping this all amounts to nothing, but sadly, history is not pointing in that direction. So while I wait for the evidence to arrive I am lost and confused about what would be the right thing to do. Normally I don't meddle, in fact I have had such bad experience with meddling and those type of people, that this is completely out of my realm. My usual tactic is to cut ties completely and run.

Once I know the truth, what do I do? Some say I should just present the evidence and leave those affected by this to sort it out on their own. My own feelings are to simply keep it to myself, and never use this information for any purpose-just keep it under my hat, so to speak. And just know the true nature of these people, and thereby protect myself and my own household. If what I suspect is true, then I need to get away from those in question fast, never look back, never be involved with them again. Of course, it's never that simple though! Sorry to babble on, but I am so lost here. I never knew people could be so manipulative and dishonest. My life is about to become soooo Jerry Springer.

Babies Need No Translation

2007-05-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a girl named Heather who was always cold. She was so cold even in the Spring and Summer. One day, Heather realized she could create cute little shrugs out of yarn that would keep her snug and warm, yet not look like an idiot while others were sweaty and hot. So she bought a ton of pointy little sticks and began to make yummy little sweaters. Heather was finally happy. The End.

Its funny how easily babies are entertained. We have a small library of childrens' classics, but sometimes I read the Sephora catalog to LBB over breakfast. He chuckles and smiles to this season's latest trends in eyeshadow every bit as much as the adventures of Wilbur from Charlotte's Web. I was reading Jenny McCarthy's book "Baby Laughs" yesterday, and had a laugh when she wrote about singing her son Evan to sleep. Despite all her preparations for the arrival of her new son, her memory failed her when it came to lullabyes, and the best she could come up with was a soft version of Brittney Spears 'oops I did it Again.'

But it did the trick.

Like Jenny, my repertoire of lullabyes and playsongs includes some gems. For the life of me I couldn't remember the words to that damn mockingbird song, or all that 'go to sleep' crap. Instead, we sing "I Like to Move It" by the Baha Men and "I Get Knocked Down" by Chumbawumba. Hummed softly they sound like lullabyes. Or a little louder with my goofy smile for playtime. LBB really digs it. If I throw some dancing and hair-tossing in, you would think I had spun a disco ball with lights over his head.

New Hampshire Sheep & Wool

2007-05-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Now, before I begin, let me apologize for the ditzy dizzy greeting-and-scurry I gave my fellow bloggers on saturday. It may have been the fleecy-fumes, the fun, the enormous ice cream cone being shoved at me by my husband, or just perhaps my abounding delight at the wonderful weather. But I sincerely regret being such a wingnut (as usual), and hope you weren't too offended!

After a lazy beginning back home, we (me, hubby, and baby) finally rolled into Contoocook around 12:30-giving me only 4 1/2 hours in fiber paradise. To make matters worse, I noticed the battery on our camera was DEAD, so we had to charge it in the car for about half that time....oh mercy.

It was gorgeous!! In fact, the whole weekend was fantastic, but the highlight of my first Mother's Day/Weekend (ok, so let me stretch it out for a few days, ok?) was the sheep & wool show. We introduced little Phil (who I will call LBB for little boy blue) to the sweet song of the alpacas, and tried to push Blogless Sharon and the Doc to buy a few, with sweet promises that LBB would gladly participate in any local 4H alpaca clubs in our area.

We stopped for a snack once or twice...

I contained myself, and picked up just two skeins of yarn at the Foxfire booth in 'tsunami' to make another baby sweater. And spent at least 40 AGONIZING minutes deliberating over my first drop-spindle. And then settled on the least-expensive model they had to offer at the Golding booth.

And there was much rejoicing.

There was also a bit of rejoicing over at the Merlin Tree (?) booth, as it was pickup time for Blogless Sharon and her antique spinning wheel. I especially loved the note left for her on the wheel by admirers...

Mommy Hate

2007-05-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Don't hate the mommy!

Thanks for your supportive emails and comments-it has been a tough week, mostly because little Phil has really hit a stage of cuteness. I am barely able to take my eyes off his little face. In fact, when he wakes at 4am for a feeding, my husband and I race each other to see who can get to him first!

These really are the best days ever.
(And nights too)

Work is a different matter-as some of you have pointed out, my coworkers aren't thrilled with the fact that I work only part time, have four-day weekends, and stroll into work just about anytime before 9AM. They don't realize that I am often out of bed and getting the doodlebug ready for his Gram or Nana around 5AM. Or that I don't take a lunch break. Or that when that office door is closed, I am typing-while-pumping. A newly acquired skill!

Nonetheless, there's still a bit of hostility in the air. Nothing obvious, but detectable in whispers around the office. Or sudden silences when I appear. Luckily, there are half a dozen other mommies in the office, and they give the place a pleasant vibe. And make it very easy to forget about the few sour grapes.

Zipping through the back of the baby christmas sweater-these little cables are a breeze!

Tuesday Morning Cute-Attack

2007-05-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

He did it again. The little devil made me cry.

I am so in love with our little boy, that I cried all the way to work today. Its so hard to leave him after four days of utter paradise. He probably doesn't even notice I'm gone, since he gets to play with his Nana today. But I'm feelin' it. Bad. After all, you leave the warm, welcoming rooms of your home and the child that adores you for the cold, uncaring world of work.

It sucks.

But I have a little shot of of the booger in his little sweater, lovingly handknit by Carole. It was perfect for him on sunday, when there was a bit of a chill in the air. And he looked quite handsome in it, I must say.

Who Do You Knit For?

2007-05-03T06:04:00.000-07:00

I was talking with Blogless Sharon yesterday about knitted gifts. I have been feeling a bit selfish because I have yet to knit anything for the mister, and have knit only two sweaters for the little one. With the time it takes me to finish a project, I usually think long and hard before deciding what to make. Its quite the committment for me, and not something I would do unless the end result will be appreciated. So if not for yourself, who do you knit for?

There have been a lot of blog discussions about this, and it seems that generally we are in agreement: knitting for fellow knitters is the most appreciated. Only a fellow knitter could know the thought that goes into a gifted knit; the deliberation over what pattern, what texture, and what kind of fiber to use. A non-knitter may not know this, and may toss that handmade treat carelessly into their laundry pile. Or worse, the recipient may handle it like the holy frickin' grail and pack it away carefully, never to be worn. My heart breaks! If this happens, it is doomed to never receive the oohs and ahhs that a handknit should get once it is recognized to be a one-of-a-kind work of art!

There is only one kind of person that will truly appreciate the gifted knit, and use it appropriately. Say, a person who waits for their child to fit perfectly into that adorable sweater so she can then post pictures online and give due credit to the person who lovingly and generously gave that mahhhhvelous shower gift. *ahem*

So onto another subject, we have here some cranberry red yumminess. Soon to be baby's first Christmas sweater because I figure it will take that long to finish it. I've been salivating over this pattern ever since I discovered I was pregnant, and hope to find a pattern that closely matches it for daddy. I was a second away from making this in Debbie Bliss cashmerino when I spotted this Berroco ultra alpaca- its not machine washable, but that didn't stop me.

Like a crow attracted to a shiny object, I am drawn to anything red, and could not resist the richness of this color. It is so merlot-like that I had to rush home and open a bottle of cabernet to celebrate.

Dog Vs. Armwarmers

2007-05-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs a mental-health break from time to time. Perhaps an hour or two spent in some kind of calming activity (and I don't mean eating though that is very calming as well). Maybe a walk through the neighborhood, or a moment taken on your back porch. Where you take a few deep breaths. Sigh. Then stretch. Turn. And wave to your neighbor Tony who is raking his yard. Just fifteen feet away. (And has picked up more than just a few details about your personal life than you care for him and his wife to know. But they are retired and watch the neighborhood like hawks. Which will be something you appreciate when your child is at a more troublesome age I suppose.)

I can count many breaks from this past weekend. (I skipped the CT Sheep & Wool Show, dang) A long stroll with the baby around the area, stopping briefly in the cemetary down the street to read some heartbreaking poems on the back of loved ones headstones. A moment taken in the back yard, as I assessed the Spring re-growth and contemplated which annuals would be the brightest against an old stone wall. (But planted nothing) Another moment taken in the nursery while the little monster napped, and I sat in the rocker reading a child's picture book to myself. Poor Despereaux the mouse! Will he save the princess?

And of course some playtime with Scout, who has recently endured a dreadful clipping and the introduction of the electric collar and fence. Despite his elctro-shock therapy he is doing quite well, and loves my finished cabled armwarmers, made from Blogless Sharon's homespun. And not really made from any specific pattern per se, but copied from bits here and there. In order to extend them above the elbows I did four increases gradually, beginning at the thickest part of my forearm.

You might be asking yourself- is she still WIP-less? Ah-HA! She is not! More on that later this week, but I promise it is very very yummy.

NO WIP's HERE!

2007-04-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am stuck in a rut. All my projects are done, the future is wide open.
What do I do next? Why can't I decide?

When babies fly

2007-04-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

This is more of a friday rant. About people. And crap. And people crapping on each other.

Its my theory that negativity is an actual force. An energy that travels from person to person like electricity on a wire. When a person hold feelings of revenge, anger, jealousy, or frustration they need to find a way to release it. Or all that negativity will cause an implosion, like a fart that that has been repressed for way too long. Sorry for the lovely metaphor, but you get the picture.

So I work in a lovely office. Usually. But perhaps while I was on maternity leave someone seriously crapped on their co-worker. Well, that mighty stinking shit has spread. And you can feel it when you walk in the door. I've been absence for eight weeks, so why do I feel outright hostility? I asked a cubicle dweller on tuesday how she was doing. With a sneer she replied "BUSY" and turned without another word and walked away. It only got worse from there-wednesday I was snapped at, and despite my numerous apologies and pleas to assist this person with whatever intolerable burden she may have, haven't received a response. But due to my theory of negativity, I refuse to pass on the nasty vibe.

Hence, the implosion.

I can directly link the infant carseat base and its propulsion across my driveway (didn't know I had that kind of strength) thursday morning to the obvious decline in morale at work. Or in other words, with no better outlet for my hurt feelings, I took out my frustration on inanimate objects. And threw things.

I also have positive outlets for my frustration. Like knitting.

And of course, the little guy:

Everything But the Kitchen Sink sweatahhhh

2007-04-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

Finally, I untangled myself from the mess of nursing, cleaning, and arranging tiny socks in order to finish this project! From Yarnplay, which was given to me as a Christmas gift, and I have to say the pattern was very well written and easy to follow. As you see, I even made a little change in the sleeves, since this FO was completed in the Spring, so I could wear it in the milder weather. Thanks to Lisa, the designer!

And there's the red hair! It's a lot brighter in the sun. And my little not-quite-a-schoolgirl but definitely not-a-sloppy-mommy haircut. Its funny that it took two weeks to get a photo, and it had to be taken in the mirror when all is said and done. But once you have that bebe, no one has the camera on you anymore! I certainly don't mind!

Yeah it was my birthday...

2007-04-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

But that was last week. And just now I finally get to re-appropriate the camera from one of our baby bags so I can show my brag-worthy knit gifts. See what baby on the brain can do?

Blogless Sharon came back from SPA with more than just some good stories. She came back with gifties for her little girl! On the left (in my favorite colors) is 220yds times two of single strand from Judy and on the right we have merino/nylon sock yarn in raspberry beret from Kim. Does this mean some sock knitting on size 1's are in my near future? We shall see. I'm exploring my options.

I had a dream last night that I knit Monica's Sand River scarf, if that's any indicator. Does anyone else actually dream of their projects beforehand? This is becoming normal for me over the last year- as I get close to finishing one project another one seems to assemble itself in my dreams. What do you dream of?

2007-04-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Britt http://pigbook1.blogspot.com for the wonderful idea, but I have thought about my Manifesto all weekend, and couldn't come up with much! Is it too much baby on the brain? I feel like lately all I have to say revolves around diapers and breastfeeding, so its time to branch out a little. So that would be the first item of my personal manifesto:

Vanity:
I will strive to be strong in mind, body, and spirit (even though I’m not always certain what ‘spirit’ encompasses).
I will always try to grow personally by taking risks, seeking adventure and new experiences, and learning new hobbies. I will embrace difference kinds of music, food, and culture with an open mind.
I will take good care of the body given me.
I will not live to eat. I will eat to live. (With the exception of my favorite edibles: red wine, sushi, chocolate, red licorice, and Momma Nonna’s stuffed peppers).

Knitting:
I will try to knit those lovely sweaters for my boys that will be cherished forever. For some time now, I have been doing this all for myself, so its about time...
I will not have a stash. I will buy only what I need. (Yeah, right)

Life In General:

I will not be one of those obsessive parents who swears her kids are the cutest, smartest, etc. But you still may have to listen to ..just...a...little...bragging... Just nod your head and say uh-huh.
I will continue to give people the benefit of the doubt, even though my husband thinks I am too affable, trusting and easygoing.
I will always appreciate my husband for his wit, wisdom, and the strength he provides me. What I love about him is that he is not always an open book, but the lessons I learn from him reveal themselves over time and really help me cope with things as they come my way.
I will always secretly dream of joining the army. Why do the guys get all the guts and glory anways?
I will no longer compromise all the time-and this is an addition after a bizarre family episode last night which I won't go into here-but will try to make a stand against the things that I feel are wrong. I will stand true to my principles. I will no longer look the other way.
I will always remember my education, and the amazing experiences gained (especially at my high school, Dana Hall.) Years later, I can still feel the support and nurturing from that old institution...
I will lead a life of diligent work and disciplined lifestyle-in other words, I will get up every morning and set out to accomplish something, even if its just spending time with my son in some sort of activity, or doing chores around the house. With the exception of Christmas morning and those rare snow days, I will get up early with the sun, get dressed and get on my way. I will not waste precious time sitting in front of the TV or computer.

I certainly do not intend to insult anyone with these statements, so please do not take offense.

Random Acts of Cuteness

2007-03-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

A lot of new moms such as myself have been posting about their frustrations with a newborn, or the difficulties of pregnancy and labor. Every one I read with understanding and share their troubles and tribulations. It has not been easy. And now, back at work, I encounter new challenges. It takes all my strength just to leave the house for work, and leave him in the loving arms of a close relative. Not to mention having to pump at work, be up several times a night for feedings, and still be perky. Ugh.

But we have all said over and over that it is worth all the trouble, tears, and pain. And so it is, especially when they are so darn cute.

Or when you get to torture them right back.

Behold Senor Pantalones. Also known as Baby Panthead:

Red is the New Black

2007-03-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

I have always thought it takes a strong woman to pull off red lipstick. And that woman has never been me. Sure, I have a tendency towards red shoes. But when it comes to a bold statement in fashion or other personal presentation I have fallen very short of such bravery.

But when a woman spends two months in practical seclusion, suddenly a stranger to the fun life of fine dining and nightspots, gains and loses 30 pounds, and becomes personal chef to an infant, she falls even further from being able to express her femininity. After all, its hard to feel pretty when you can't fit back into your favorite skinny jeans. Or when you cut short your daily beauty routine to nurse on the couch. Blow-dry and straight-iron? Are you kidding me?

But during one feeding session, the shampoo commercial depicting a harried mother caught my eye. It stated that 89% of mothers admitting to letting themselves go. My husband looked over at me, took in my current disarray of sloppy hair, unmade face, and wide-open wrinkled shirt, and laughed. I laughed with him, but that sealed the deal.

Friday I walked into my salon and gave Nicole, my goddess with scissors, a serious order. With precision she removed my soccer-mom blonde shaggy 'do. Three hours later, a woman getting that same soccer-mom style was admiring Nicole's work. "When she came in here, she was a blonde," replied my stylist.

"NO WAY," gaped Mrs. Partial-Foil Soccer Mom.

So, I am very sorry not to share a picture of my new look, but I can only describe it as very very red. As soon as I can get someone to take my picture, you will see true fashion bravery...

The Walrus and the Carpenter

2007-03-19T06:30:00.001-07:00

The policeman and the secretary

walked on the beach one day

To stretch their legs and see the mess

the storm had tossed astray

They watched the gulls swirl in the wind

and waves crash with a rage

While counting all the crabs and clams

and even an errant lobster cage...

After the storm we wrapped up the baby and took the dog for a walk on the beach. True to the tales we have heard, the second low tide after a storm is a seafood-lovers fantasy. Washed up in the tidal pools were tons of steamers, razor clams, and sea clams. Our jogging stroller quickly became a conduit for a stash of foraged clams (and if anyone reading this is an employee of the town or environmental police I deny deny deny!). That night I whipped up a dinner of stuffed clams just like Mom used to make for us. Yet another reward of living by the beach!

I also started over on the sleeves for EBTKS. The long sleeves looked chunky, so I decided to try a cap- or short-sleeve. Like I have said before, Lisa's patterns are well written and easy to play with, so I cast on 52 stitches and proceeded with a 2X2 ribbing for just an inch, worked in stockinette for another in, and then started the decreases. The neckline should just have 4 extra stitches, which will work out just fine. Hopefully. AND I'll be finished faster..heehe.

Widdle Hands..

2007-03-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Have a great weekend!

Burn Baby Burn

2007-03-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely I have been working away at my cabled wristwarmers. The wool my mother spun is easy to work with, but will be very very warm! Had I the motivation to start over I would probably ease up the twist on the cable, and do only one cable on each arm instead of three, as the yarn is very dense. I'm going to find great use for these, as they will be perfect for those days where it is to warm to wear a winter coat, but too cool in the morning to get away without one. More pictures to come as I slog along between feedings and diaper changes...

I've been thinking a lot about the EBTKS sweater. As I have been working on the first sleeve, I'm not a big fan of the bulkiness-it works for the body, but the last thing I need right now are chunky-lookin' arms. So with a little bit of experimentation, I may attempt to short-sleeve it. Still mulling it over though...

In the meantime I wanted to share the dinner and a show we received at New Tokyo over the weekend.

I love hibachi...

Spring Misgivings

2007-03-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

Mom & Dad's landscaping crew hard at work:

I will not hate myself. I pledge to love myself the way I am, and take good care of myself. I will not be obsessed with losing weight, or fitting back into last year's denim mini.

March 20th will mark the first day of Spring, a season that I am very fond of because in the past it has meant flounder fishing, maple syrup collecting, and spring lambs. It also marks a period of self-loathing that begins when I spot the first skinny college girls down at the waterfront in their cute little spring outfits. Being a 30-something isn't that bad, but it is hard to face the fact that I will never be a little chickadee again. And I'm sick-I think about it every year.

Luckily, I have my Dad. Being a physician, outdoorsman, and all around down-to-earth guy he is fantastic to talk to about health, fitness, and general well-being. Last weekend we talked about the importance of good nutrition, and treating one's body well. He brought me back to reality: it doesn't matter if we look anything like celebrities or the models from our favorite magazines. It is important, however, to keep in shape and make sure we are in the best of health for the years to come. Looking back, I'm pretty sure we have this chat every spring. It helps.

So I will not stress about fitting into my swimsuit, or foolishly consider tanning. I will, however, keep that bowl on the kitchen table brimming with fruit. And do my 45 minutes of cardio. And love myself just the way I am.

And for a bit of knitting eye-candy, the Kaia sweater my mother (AKA Blogless Sharon) knit for the little guy:

Cookie Mojo

2007-03-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

You're looking at my attempt at cookie magic. Look closely at these cookies and you will see them dotted with tropical fishies...

Islamorada is proclaimed to be the sportfishing capital of the US. I bring this up because lately it has been proposed as the destination of the next in-law family vacation. Color me psyched. Four or five years ago I was obsessed with fishing!

I've had to find excuses to miss the last three family vacations because they kept going to the same spot: Disney. Now I won't go into any great explanation about why I detest Disney, because I know a lot of lovers of the place. But what I can say is that they have somehow discovered my most beloved place on earth and turned it into an amusement park hotel. Behold Portofino, Disney-style:

Portofino is the kind of place that is so small and so off the beaten path that it has become an very exclusive getaway for italian gentlemen and their uber-young mistresses. I loved it, but unfortunately cannot afford to skip off to $500/night vacations all the time, so it will have to live on in my memory. The genuine article:

Bellissimo!

With Love From Iraq

2007-03-01T05:15:00.000-08:00

And there has been genuine silliness this week. It just goes to show that you cannot put three siblings in a room together without experiencing the following:

bad eating habits
constant laughter
dirty jokes
nipple tweaking

We are really happy to have my little bro home for two weeks, safe and sound and least for now. Tuesday, over dinner and beers we caught up on lost time, introduced him to his nephew, and let ourselves relax for just a little while, now that he is back on American soil.

Mum, or Blogless Sharon as you may know her, will hopefully enjoy two weeks of sleep now that her youngest is home from the war. She also shared some of her homespun with me:

This is destined to be the super-long cabled wristwarmers from the Lion brand yarns website that are worthy of being worn with a vintage style white blouse to my office this spring. I have had WAY too much time on my hands! Too much time reading fashion mags, watching episodes of 'What Not to Wear' and too much MTV. I can tell you with certainty that this has affected my self-image in a negative way. It has also caused an obsession with fashion that I cannot afford! So I have concocted a 'style' of my own that you could describe as vintage/Newbury St boutique. Actually, it is something closer to 'what does TJMaxx and Marshalls have this week?'

While I absolutely love the array of colors from all the aquisitions you made at SPA (I'll be there next year I swear) my favorite will always be the natural shades of wool in their oatmeal-speckled yumminess. I think it reminds me of the irish cable sweaters that I love so much...

Challenges

2007-02-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

There are so many things people try to tell you about having children-most of them are ominous or unpleasant. Every person who has ever had children always passed on gems of wisdom to us that made me put off being a parent more and more. Six years of marriage later, we finally took the step and said goodbye to the freedom of dual-income-no-kids (also known as DINK) and waited to see what would unfold.

The horrors of pregnancy never happened-crying, moodiness, puking, hemorroids, etc- so you all were wrong in that aspect- HA HA! The rest, however, was pretty true. Such as 'your life changes completely' and 'say goodbye to sleep.' Thank god no one told me that I would barely be able to knit, or this may have never happened!

All of this can be enjoyed if you put a positive spin on it, and this I am determined to do!

So, maybe last night I was up four times for feedings. Phil, however, is so sweet (and doesn't have that hearty cry yet) that I actually enjoy it. Sick, isn't it. And nursing is no walk in the park either. Lactation experts at the hospital LIE! The latch-on doesn't cause the pain, it is going to hurt no matter what! But on the flip side, nursing our child is the most rewarding experience, and is well worth the trouble and tears. I understand and sympathize with every woman that could not continue nursing, but urge those who want to try to stick it out-it will be worth it.

Must Love Dogs

2007-02-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

In light of the upcoming Westminster Dog Show, I would like to share a spotlight on our beloved Scout. He will not allow me to post a letter from his perspective-he's more of the strong silent type. Instead, I'll just thank him for all his support since the arrival of our little boy.

It is his responsiblity to check on the baby every morning, and he dutifully does this by giving a soft gentle lick to the back of his head before baby's first feeding of the day.

Its also his responsibility to provide stress relief for the sleep-deprived parents, a mission that he jumps to complete at a moment's notice. So when the mommy spontaneously breaks into tears, or daddy is awakened for the fourth time for a wet diaper emergency, Scout is there for backup with the most gentle gestures of love.

Coming soon: Scout assumes management of the household food waste and disposal duties....

Back to Blogland

2007-02-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

About six months ago a close friend, upon hearing our news, said something very unusual but true. He looked at Phil and said, "buddy, you think you love your wife? You don't even know what love means until you have your first child."

He wasn't kidding. Now I love Phil with all my heart, but I love even more what he has given to me. Its not out of the ordinary to feel overwhelmed when you just look at your infant-the emotions are out of this world. I wish I could share this accurately, but you would have to get smothered in tears and hugs.

Instead I would like to share some pictures of the proud grandparents, and one soft fuzzy hat and scarf I started at the hospital, and just finished almost three weeks later.

Its not easy to knit with one arm free...

I would like to thank you all for your sweet comments and support-it was absolutely wonderful to read while we were home the first week. It really helped to cheer me up too-big warning to future mothers-beware of those hormones the first week or two back home! That hormone let-down is a doozy! Luckily, it didn't last very long for me, but I have heard from others that it can stick around a while and really bring you down.

On a side note, if you are around on a friday night with nothing better to do, don't miss the Lou Dobb's report on CNN. Sometime in the next few weeks they will be doing a brief spotlight on my heroic hubby-I'll let you know the details, but they've told us it will air shortly. (unfortunately, his witchy wife refused to be interviewed. hmph. something about having a newborn, not having enough sleep, et cetera et cetera)

Well, that's my rambling report. Hopefully I will make more sense on the next posting...

Welcome Little One....

2007-01-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

Philip III joined us on saturday (his parents' 6th wedding anniversary) at about 5:38 PM. Ten fingers, ten toes, one adorable button nose, blue eyes, and a head perfectly shaped and covered with downy-soft blonde hair.

So now we're all at home resting (mostly) and spending long hours gazing at this beautiful little miracle. He's healthy, active, and always hungry.

And of course, there is much knitting...

The Protector: A Touching Tale of a Boy and His Elephants

2007-01-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

GIMME MY ELEPHANT!

The formula for a good martial arts flic:

Young boy from distant village in China/Thailand/Japan journeys to big city to take on bad mob boss and his/her 300 henchmen to recover stolen Buddha/artifact/medallion/chalice/elephant.

Elephant?

Yup, in this heart-rendering story, Tony Jaa goes to Sydney, Australia to recover his dear elephant pals from a nasty dragon lady, in the process slaying her worthless hot nephew, rescuing the fair maiden, redeeming a cop who has been framed for numerous murders, and gallantly beating the piss out of a gigantic aussie dude in the midst of a temple that has been set aflame. All the while, our hero repeats the same line, "YOU TOOK MY ELEPHANTS!" Whowie.

This movie got me thinking-How cool would it be to have henchmen? Nameless and faceless men by the dozens, who suddenly surge into the room at the first opportunity in order to take an inevitable ass-whipping on my behalf?

I can see it now. Paul, the pissy attorney with a severe case of what I call 'newattorneyitis' rushes into my office, frantic because his hearing is five business days away and he MUST have some neurologist write a narrative report because he feels the judge won't understand the handwriting in his treatment notes. Of course, this is somehow my problem, and I am supposed to pull some magic out of my ass and sweet talk Dr. So-and-so of Mayo Clinic to drop everything THIS morning to write a summary. (What the hell, that 8 AM spinal fusion can wait, can't it?)

I glare at Paul and, without breaking eye contact, pull a dagger from my pencil cup and fling it at him with a mighty scream. It bounces off the wall harmlessly of course. I really did it just for emphasis. After all, four dozen henchmen in black suits are about to rush into the hallway from every door, window and orifice, circle the bratty lawyer, and proceed to attack. That's what I pay them to do, after all. And who knows, perhaps Mr. My-Hearings-Are-Priority really isn't a mild-mannered civil libertarian after all, but a deadly force to be reckoned with. And trained in the deadly art of Muay Thai...

T-Minus 6 Days......

2007-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Place your bets! When will she blow?!

Less than a week to the due date-do you think its time yet? Absolutely not-I'm still working, even! The midwife asked me if I had any contractions....nope...and feeling of 'lightening' from the baby dropping into position....uh, nope. Let's be frank, I won't feel anything of the sort because there is no lower a position he could possibly go! I'm barely over five feet, so unless he can visit my knees, there's no 'lightening' going on here. In fact, he feels like a real fatty boobalatti.

Then I was asked if he had quieted down at all, supposedly a clear sign that delivery is imminent. On the contrary, he has kicked up a storm, and has been able to twist my poor little belly into crazy shapes, practically driving me to tears.

So what does this all mean, you might ask. I don't have a clue, since this is my first go 'round, but I'm taking bets on what will be the actual day. Maria, my father's PA (but better described as wonderful unofficial adopted family member) has passed on her "one week late" curse to me. My supervisor believes my delivery date will depend on the next full moon. And Mr. has discussed at length with our midwives how we may ensure his arrival doesn't fall on or near superbowl sunday. Heaven forbid.

I feel this last (?) week like a vessel-a baby UHaul or something of that sort. None of what happens next is up to me. It's all up to the little guy. And so it will be from now on.

Truth In Advertising

2007-01-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

If I were not married and almost nine months pregnant, I would ask the folks at Boston Bedding of they could prove this:

Since I am too lazy to zoom in let me share with you that Boston Bed Company is boasting that with them you will "Sleep with the Best!"

Really....

I thought that claim to fame was mine...

Read the Directions!!!!!

2007-01-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

So where was I?

Getting ahead of myself again, that's right.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink has been a fun sweater-in just a few days I whipped through the body and separated for the sleeves. Last night, feeling energetic, I began decreasing up to the neckline.

Whoops.

So maybe we forgot to read a teensy little part of the directions about decreasing on the purl rows...

I'm not ashamed. Its happened to knitters far more skilled than myself. But what a mess this will be, since I have to backtrack through about six changes in yarn.

Yuck.

And my husband says to me, "that's going to be one crazy HAT."

A Break Away From Myself

2007-01-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

I am beside myself.
Perhaps even behind, or better yet, ahead of myself.
Either way, there is definitely no room left inside myself.

There is a 6-ish pound critter taking up most of the space, and whatever is left has been used for food storage. So I am thinking of taking a break away from myself. If I could do this, I would most definitely take a nice long stroll; do some skipping and hopping, maybe even some running and leaping.
Prancing is not out of the question.
I would consider taking a polar plunge in the Manomet waters, and then defer to splashing just my fingertips in it before spending an hour or so half-bent staring at the sand in search of sea glass. I would throw some 80’s music on in the kitchen, drink a few glasses of Riesling, and dance with abandon in my fluffy red bathrobe. I would try on a little black dress and blow kisses at an imaginary audience. Then I would take five minutes to face myself and do some little physical touchups, since I can’t really reach my toes when I am in myself.

Mua-ha-hahh

2007-01-04T05:25:00.000-08:00

Behold, one completely un-blocked, unbuttoned baby cardigan. Blah-needs some decorative stitching, bright buttons, or some kind of accent. However, with the new knitting book "YarnPlay" staring me right in the face, I made a mad rush to whip up this project and move on to the next: Everything but the Kitchen Sink. It is the craziest sweater, but I had to. Just had to do it.
Eight various skeins of yarn later, plus whatever leftovers are in my stash I am back in the groove. Most interesting is the pure wool I picked out from Harrisville Designs, a spinning mill in New Hampshire. In lovely "Highland Iris" Yummy yummy.

Just a brief update on the baby situation: 2 1/2 weeks to go, and we are all doing very well! I'm measuring up to normal size and the little guy is in the right position. I do have to say, my mother has filled my head with hopes of a quick 6-hour labor (lucky woman!). However, when I brought this up to the midwife yesterday, she chuckled immediately.

So maybe the average woman suffers around sixTEEN hours-I'm definitely not average! Heather STRONG LIKE BULL! I also have news for them-not eating for over a few hours will either put me in a really nasty mood or a coma. So it is not even a remote possibility that this could take that long! Just wave a cheeseburger in front of me, and that should take care of things quickly. If that doesn't work, wave a bottle of Pinot Noir...

Christmas Booty

2006-12-28T05:05:00.000-08:00

Hee hee! My lovely sister-in-law gave me this for Christmas:
Reason #1 why I love this book? It is adventurous. I love playing with patterns, adjusting a neckline here, or adding a vent or seam there, in case you haven't noticed by now. The sweaters in this book allow for variations in guage, yarn, texture, and pattern. After you peek through this book for a minute or two you come up with some original ideas. My favorite is the "everything but the kitchen sink" sweater.

It shows you how (in theory) to take a mishmosh of beautiful yarns and make a pullover worthy of wearing to work, or as the pictures suggest, sitting in a sunlit cafe, wearing seductive liquid eyeliner, sipping a latte. I feel hopeful that if I could complete such a sweater I would most definitely leave work early one day. I would go to Algiers in Cambridge and enjoy a decadent coffee while posing pretty-as-a-picture in my own handiwork. (Reality check: knit with washable wool and dark colors that may be resistant to the staining qualities of baby spit-up. Eyeliner is a no-go, as sleepless nights result in the frequent rubbing of one's eyes.)

Reason #2? It is young and hip. The tops are cute and fitted without being sleezo. If I wanted to knit a potato sack I could knit a tube with sleeves with my eyes closed. In the middle of a Jethro Tull concert. High. No thanks-I'd like to make something more flattering. Someone decided that I would be prone to gaining weight in my lower body rather than mid- or upper-, so I need to work with what God gave me. Baggy pants are good. Baggy tops are out of the question.

Well, enough of the rambling-with the holidays, work pressure, and 4 weeks or less to go before babakins arrives, my brain is mush.

I smuggled a basketball...

2006-12-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

Well, back to work. I hope you all had wonderful weekends. I intend to spend the next two days reading about all of it on other blogs in detail! As for us, it was a quiet and peaceful holiday. More anticipatory, really. As we finished opening gifts and sorting through our stocking stuffers (I am sooo spoiled) we enjoyed our last quiet Christmas morning together, knowing the holiday would have a whole new meaning for us next year. For years it has been 'you, me, and Scout makes three' as our little domestic unit and we have been very content! However, having had a taste of what being a parent brings, we know there has been something missing.

But we made great use of the time, and enjoyed some peace and quiet together. We also got in our last sporting event before little Rand arrives:

Basketball.

So there you have it: we saw the Sox back in month 3 and the Patriots season-opener in September. We watched the Bruins take the ice in October, and now have seen the Celtics take the court in December. This baby has been to everything but soccer before he's even been born!

Toys in Babeland

2006-12-21T04:51:00.000-08:00

I've been catching some criticism for my lack of knitting lately, and for this I am so sorry! I try to plug away at the baby cardigan, but find myself frozen in mid-purl in front of the latest episode of Nip Tuck or Top Chef. Or standing in front of the cutting board slicing up dozens of biscotti that I will never eat.

Or the latest: organizing the nursery and packing, unpacking, and re-packing the hospital bag. None of this make sense. None of this is typical Heather. I've always been more of a go-go-go kind of person, but completely lacking in organizational skills. Now I'm a sit-sit-eatacookie person who spends an hour sorting baby socks and onesies by size.

Mr finds it hilarious, and turns to me quite often to prompt, "knit, woman, knit!" and makes whipping sounds when he finds me frozen, #4 needles stuck in mid-air. I'd make a great entry in the world's first knitting wax-museum.

One Week Before Xmas

2006-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you worked at my office you'd have a piece of my mocha-almond or cranberry (chocolate-dipped) biscotti right now. To which there is no recipe. Its all in my head. ...like many things...

Well, having a baby changes your life entirely, so I have heard over and over again. Yes, I get it. None of these changes are unwelcome.

Except one.

The hard top is on the Jeep.

Since the day we bought it, the ragtop has been my best friend. And the hard top we removed that same day has been ruminating somewhere on the farm. Last night I finally said goodbye to the freedom of zippered windows, flapping roofs, icy cold morning drives, and said hello to my first concession of motherhood. Automobile comfort and safety.

They still won't get me to give up my heels!

Adam's First Christmas

2006-12-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Can ours be this cute? Oh please please? This is baby Adam in his PJ's, one of the latest additions to our Kappa Delta Phi circle of friends (but more like family.)

Oh, how things have changed. Last saturday as we all gathered for a Christmas party, we gingerly stepped around the house to avoid all the wandering and tottering kids one of us was muttering, "What in the world are we going to do in ten years when we all have crabby teenagers..."
We won't think of that now. I know it will happen in the blink of an eye (and that scares me!), but for now just look at the little darling! Merry Christmas Adam, Joseph, Lauren, and Nicholas. We will have a new playmate for you soon!

London and a Silly Hat

2006-12-14T05:22:00.000-08:00

Hmm...so yesterday I was reminiscing about London. In all the places we have lived and visited, I have never felt so at home. And with all the places on this earth I wish to see, returning there tops my list. Even if I had to choose between jolly ol' England or being the first knitter in space...well, London would win. I would move there permanently if given the choice. (Sorry Boston.)

Traveling is remarkable to me because it packs more surprises than a cheap horror movie. One such occasion that I will never forget was a quick dinner at this funky spot on Drury Lane. We were going to see 'My Fair Lady'and needed to eat first, and were drawn to this cute little wooden door surrounded by a lush little garden. Stepping inside, we found a great long room, decorated something between the theme of Arabian Nights and a high school theatre prop room. The place was called Sarastro, and was supposed to be almost a theatrical dining experience, but it was quiet that night, or maybe we were very early (they eat very late in that city, usually after the show). So we were led to a little nook where we were suited on golden batik-printed cusions and served a half-way decent mediterranean meal.

We were almost done when Mr. decided to hit the restroom. He came back with a stunned look on his face, and after a moment he murmured, "there is porn in the bathroom. ALL OVER the walls."
I couldn't contain myself, and picturing walls pasted with pages from smutty magazines, of course made a mad rush to see for myself. (Later we checked a guide of area restaurants and found that this place was recommended for families. Sweet.) Who wouldn't?

The ladies room as well was painted wall to wall with a fresco of little devils having their way with plump little nymphs. In every possible position. Quite happily too. On every inch of wall. You couldn't find a safe place to keep your eyes, as even while you washed your hands, the mirror above reflected dozens of wicked little figures having the time of their lives, while you cursed having to rush off to a rated G musical....Screamingly funny.

I could have told you that...sigh

2006-12-13T06:52:00.000-08:00

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern.
A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock.
A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything.
No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

Happy Birthday Blogless Sharon!!!!

2006-12-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

I happen to have the most wonderful mother on earth- she's free-spirited, intelligent, sweet, loving, thoughtful (and zany like me.) And today is her birthday!!! So I thought I would share some of the wonderful memories and gags that come to mind. (And sorry for stealing the photo, but it just captures her so well.)

1) She is kind and graceful- with her influence even her rough and tumble sons have grown up to be sensitive and giving young men.
2) She spent years organizing a team of women and going to schools to teach children about the dangers of drug abuse.
3) When she enters a room she brings grace and dignity. I love how my mother takes pride in herself-unlike stories I heard from other kids, I was never embarassed to be caught in public with my mom. In fact, when she was a field-trip chaperone, all the 'cool' kids vied to be in her group. Afterwards, the 'cool' kids would give me the proverbial pat on the back and talk about how great my mom was, or perhaps something funny she did or said.
4) She would do anything for us kids. She would sew any Halloween costume we so desired, or spend hours creating an authentic gladiator costume for Ed's latin class (haha, Ed. Do you watch movies about gladiators?) She would wake at 4AM for hockey practice. She would drive to the college library for desperately-needed and last-minute research.
5) She's so creative, off-beat, and takes everything in stride, whether it be having an alligator chase her and a stroller in the everglades, having a team of oxen unexpectedly dropped off at the farm, or coming home to hear chainsaw being started up in her bedroom...
6) She can't say no to a puppy or kitten. Or racoon. Or flying squirrel.

7) Mom is beautiful. Without even trying.

Fuzzy Baby Boggy Brain

2006-12-11T05:13:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry for the bland post, but my camera is home. It's getting harder to accomplish even the ordinary tasks, and as for keeping up routine? Even worse. I'm not totally disorganized yet, but in small stages I can see it happening. First came the physical signs; walking trash to the basement went first. Then I became complete helpless in the cleaning department, and the house began looking a bit like a used-clothing drive. I could sort things into piles, but physically the follow-through just-wasn't-a-happenin'.

Now here's the catch-I can shop for three different types of sugar, whip up a batch biscotti, improvise a double-boiler and dip them in chocolate, but I can't find my way to the sock drawer.

Shortly thereafter came the signs of mental weakness- I have always been terrible with the telephone, but now I forget my cell phone even exists. If you want to reach me, send a carrier pigeon, write it in the sky, or shoot an arrow, but don't call! If I don't write it down in my calendar, I even forget to shower.

Again, its bizarre that I can knit half a dozen cabled hats, but if you ask me to call the vet the scheduled a Scout-checkup, I can't find enough time!

Just an update on Dave and the furniture situation- the pieces did not show up thursday as I was told. However, after receiving a visit from Mr. they called just hours later to notify us the furniture had arrived. It must have been magic.

Hats Off!

2006-12-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

I finished another fuzzy and soft cable beanie last night, and am reluctant to let it go! But I really did want to participate in the Knit Unto Others KAL, so I gathered all my finished hats for one last goodbye.

Since none of these are made in a washable wool, they wouldn't be too suitable for children. Instead, I'm sending them off to St. Francis House in Boston to be distributed through their means to the homeless.

About five years ago I accompanied our church youth group to an overnight there and helped with their clothing distribution the next morning. It was quite an experience-I wish I had the pictures with me. Ever since then, I think of those people we met when we have cold winter nights, as we learned its quite commonplace for the homeless to freeze to death on particularly harsh nights. It's a little 'put yourself in someone else's shoes,' moment that I have all the time. Imagine struggling to survive a harsh city in the winter, while people in warm coats, with warm offices and apartments are all around you. It makes my heart break.

Man + Beer + Turkey = FUN

2006-12-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of hearing about the Fab 5 yet? Tough. Until tomorrow, when I hopefully finish my Knit Unto Others project (late late late!) and another soft cabled beanie from the Stitch Cafe http://www.stitchcafe.com/freepatterns.html pattern, you must hear about the Fabulous Five. And my fabulous man too.

Drill weekend is always a chance for the Fab 5 to have a get-together, and nothing cheers me up better than having my pals over. So I gladly hosted a dinner friday night, and enlisted the help of Mr. I had only asked him to throw a turkey in the oven since I would be at work. Instead, he be-decked the house, whipped up gourmet stuffing and potatoes, brined and roasted a turkey, cleaned up, and waited for us to arrive.

I rolled onto our street after work and spotted from 50 yards away the twinkling lights that framed our picture window. Inside this window now stood two glittering iconic holiday figures; a fluffy snowman and Santa himself, waving. At 4 feet high, they stand in our window to greet everyone who turns down our street in their gaudy glittery-ness. Eyes and mouth wide open in shock, I entered our house where Mr. calmly looked at me and said, "I have waited ALL DAY to see that look on your face."

Well, after some tasty turkey and fixins, including stuffed acorn squash, homemade cranberry sauce, corn muffins, white wine and pumpkin cheesecake squares (thanks ladies!) we have a silly photo in front of the infamous window....

Me Vs. Raging Hormones

2006-12-04T05:21:00.000-08:00

"Hello! Baby Furniture Warehouse-Dave speaking."

"Hi Dave, I'm calling to see if my order of furniture came in today as planned."

"Hold on a moment please..."

hmmmm....da da da the girl from ipanema.....

"Hello, Mrs Rand? They couldn't fit it on the truck today."

Oh really a%*wipe. I spent all morning organizing onesies and rattles to make space because you said it would be here. "Oh that's too bad Dave. When do think the dressers will be there for us to pickup?"

"Well, with the snow I don't think we'll have them monday either."

Great. GREAT! I'm about to POP any minute now, but driving through sleet in a little Jeep is no problem for me, but it is for two grown men in a tractor trailer?

"Oh, that's the latest you said it would take-so my husband had planned to be there today or tomorrow to get them."

"Sorry Mrs. Rand, but I'd have to say they should be in on thursday."

Oh go screw yourself. I'm going to go make four dozen cookies and a pumpkin pie, I'm so damn frustrated.

"Thanks Dave, have a nice day!"

I just wanted to give you all a little insight on the evil that lurks within....

I don't have a problem....

2006-11-30T05:24:00.000-08:00

Do you find that you collect ideas faster than you can commit to them?

Plugging away at work this morning I found in my subdirectories a chunk of free patterns- a whole folder full of tantalizing patterns and pictures, entitled "Rainy Day." It appears that in my web-travels my lust for cute patterns has snuck up on me. Mindlessly, I have been tossing anything that perks my interest into this little e:cubby for that 'rainy day.' Of course, when the time is right, I am always home and nowhere near my work computer, so that doesn't help.

I printed off the patterns to take home and deleted the evidence, in case our web administrator decided to poke around my drives during my upcoming maternity leave. (Is this beginning to sound like some form of addiction? Let's see...compulsive behavior *check* ...hiding the evidence *check*)

Easy Delite cap from the ladies at Zephyr! Mikado fingerless gloves from Crystal Palace Yarns! Why haven't I tried these yet? Does anyone else have a folder in which they stash countless fun and easy weekend projects that are never to be done? Come to think of it, just having these patterns at my disposal is almost as exciting as having a finished version of them in my hands. Just the potential of whipping off an adorable peapod hat for someone's baby shower, or felted flowers to trim a birthday gift gives me the warm fuzzies. Elbow-length fingerless gloves-so cool! Meanwhile, not a single pattern is suitable for the growing stash of yarn I have at home.

Just A Little Something....

2006-11-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

Do you have what it takes to become a US citizen? In my continued break from knitting posts (so sorry, still working on my Knit Unto Others project while contemplating my next venture) I would like to share this little quiz from MSN. It is a sample of the questions arranged for potential US citizenship, and at the moment it is under scrutiny. Well, just give it a shot and see how you do. I was happy to see I wasn't so clueless after all, but then again these are pretty straitforward:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13442226/

Hillary Duff?

2006-11-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

Showered With Love...

2006-11-27T05:03:00.000-08:00

Well, you all get a break from the turkey-day posts with this one.

One day you're driving home from church, happy as can be, when your husband turns into the local hotel parking lot. Uh oh. Despite what he's mouthing to you, you know better-we don't eat breakfast here! Its a shower!!

(Here's a shot of my initial response-see the silly grin? Also mom AKA Blogless Sharon looked so darn fantastic!)

I won't be so crass as to single out any special gifts-it wouldn't be possible to anyways. We are so lucky to have such thoughtful friends and family. And very talented too! The room was decorated to match our nursery room decor- with little bears and twinkling stars. Then, from the detailed homemade gifts which I will take care of and treasure, to the generous and thoughtful supplies, toys and needs, I am so happy to say that we are so ready to receive this little guy!!!

There was a lot of parenting wisdom in the room as well, which helps a lot when you're trying to figure out what you will need for the first time. You quickly realize you may not have thought this through enough!

So just eight (give or take) weeks to go, and thanks to my loving family and friends, the nursery has changed from a sad and stark little room to a bright and joyful room filled with bags, bows, books, and toys.

If it is at all possible, my excitement is even greater. With any luck, I'll be waving pom poms and cheering in the delivery room rather than swearing and crying. But I need to get friendly with my anesthesiologist first.

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

2006-11-22T04:47:00.000-08:00

Yay! We're finally in the third trimester, actually just two months to go- as of my latest visit with the midwife we are also a portrait of perfect health (knock on wood. My heart goes out to those who haven't been so fortunate.) Positive, positive, positive has been my approach to this. I figured if I could find a way to not be bothered with the yucky stuff-the heaviness, the swollen feet, the CONSTANT KICKING, it might not be that bad at all. And wouldn't ya know- I've really enjoyed being pregnant. Might even do it again. A few times.

Or not.

Some things I have learned from this experience since I just LOVE making lists, and few cutesy pictures I ripped off the internet:

1) Primary colors aren't so bad. So my wardrobe and my house is a drab collection of muted colors-pale yellows and tans. Soon it will be swamped with bright red, yellow and blue plastic, which might be a great improvement...

2) Must learn to clean. And vacuum. Because unlike Scout, little Rand will not be able to differentiate between a cookie and a fur ball.

3) People LOVE pregnant women. We're like santa claus, easter bunny, and humpty dumpty rolled into one. We bring smiles to people's faces. Children edge closer to us. Strangers smile and wink at us. Cashiers at every store want us to stop and talk about it. And expect lots of flattery-I wasn't called beautiful this often even when I was a bride.

4) I have uttered those words to describe the experience that I used to dread, "It will change your life forever." Just about 7 months ago those words were enough to send chills up my spine and make me secretly swear to avoid this if at all possible.

After all, unless you have gone through it, those words are quite ominous. But once you feel your first kick or wiggle, that all changes. You get 'the glow'-yes it does exist, and you realize the changes you are going through are welcome ones. Now after I say those words, I wonder why I waited so long to do this.

5) Dude-you get heavy! It feels like someone is making me tote a small watermelon around all day long! But as one of my preggie co-workers describes, "you have to have some reason to want them to come out. Otherwise you'd want them to stay in there forever." How true.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. Don't forget what this holiday is about-be thankful!

Bring on the Pilgrims!

2006-11-20T05:01:00.000-08:00

Just another tasty tidbit about my hometown- we have a great Thanksgiving Parade. Great marching bands. Tons of bagpipes. Lots of bells and whistles. And muskets. I favor the Revolutionary War-era bands with their snare drums and fifes-pretty nifty.

Cabby Shack also does a fantastic float that is a replica of the Mayflower-it is so tall that they have to lower the masts at every streetlight.

And also notable is the Budweiser draft horses, who made a special appearance and will be around town until they head off for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I didn't get a good shot of the horses, but happened to grab a shot of the chase-car.

It takes a lot of humility to be the pooper-scooper for the Budweiser draft horses. I tip my hat to that guy...

Sweet Charity

2006-11-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

Its been so long since I have been involved in a charity. Or fundraiser. Or even devoted my time to any cause. (Not counting stuff for the troops.) It occurred to me how much I took those chances once offered up in high school and college for granted. Since the day I was handed my diploma, out the window went all those days volunteering at the MSPCA, those afternoons at Dana Hall organizing and arranging Thanksgiving meals for needy families, those weeks spent in preparation at Kappa Alpha Theta raising money through party events and the annual Mr. Fraternity pageant.

Yeah, so maybe I did the Walk for Hunger a few times since then, or emptied some spare change in the good old fireman's boot, but why? Take a moment and make sure your heart was in the right place when you did those things. Sadly, mine was not.

While starting up this teensy little cardigan for Newborns in Need, I reflected upon this. Going to the animal shelter every week was more fun for me than a night out at the latest Belmont Hill dance. And cleaning out the coin pocket in my car for a cause made me feel better than a day of beauty at the dayspa. But to be honest, I spent that time to beef up my college applications rather than in a selfless act for homeless animals or people. And when the mission was accomplished, so was my volunteerism.

HOWEVER. Looking more closely at the things I have done, who is to say I was selfish at all? Most college-bound kids focused their time on friends, their grades, and their athletic skills rather than cleaning poop in a puppy pen. So maybe I was trying to look good for those admissions peeps at Union, Gettysburg, and Washington & Lee, but I most likely gave up better grades, athletic excellence, and greater popularity to do it this way.

Luckily, we get so many chances to redeem ourselves. And in the coming years, I can try to lead a more philanthropic life without working for my own gain. After all, that is what it's all about.

One Sign That I Knit Too Much

2006-11-15T05:19:00.000-08:00

When I arrived at work today, instead of fussing about the wrinkles in my pants, I broke out the lint roller to remove the alpaca fibers from my shirt....

Molly Be Gone!

2006-11-14T05:31:00.000-08:00

Wow- just one more poofy cap sleeve and Molly Ringwald is done. It has been a fun and easy project, and I learned a few new skills such as how to do a kitchener stitch, and how to make ruffles. Now the question is when will I ever fit into this?

Plus, I've been obsessing over what next to do. The last issue of Interweave Knits was rather blah (if anyone wants my copy please help yourself!) so I wasn't feeling very inspired. My next thought was a stash-reduction project. I have a million skeins of yarn in crimson and wine-like colors that are begging to be used before they become Scout's chew toys. On the other hand, I don't like knitting accessories as much as I enjoy tackling a sweater. But then again, with the cold weather coming, there are people in need of warm items. Maybe its time to stop thinking of myself, and time to find ways to distribute those soft and fuzzy cashmerino and durable wool hats and scarves I have made to people who will need them the most.

Veteran's Day

2006-11-10T04:43:00.000-08:00

Since tomorrow I will most likely be sitting at a parade with Scout (probably thinking of my grandpa and crying a little) here's your Veteran's Day post from me a day early.

Please remember the veterans. At some time in their lives they made a huge sacrifice. They were sent away from home, away from loved ones, away from comfort and safety. They may have made tough decisions. Or they may have found they had no choice at all. While we can sit here and bicker about politicians, the price of gas, or the taxes for a cup of coffee, they dutifully follow orders. Even the most horrendous ones of which they will never divulge to us at home. While we are horrified by the news reports and casualties of war, they know with actually experience.

So please honor and treat our veterans with respect. If you see a VFW or American legion table set up at the supermarket, please stop for a moment to thank them. If you see a soldier, stop and thank him or her. Donate a bit of cash to the next care package drive you see.

I hate this post as I write it. I hate the years my family has suffered while our men have been deployed. I hate the fear we all feel as my youngest brother is serving overseas right now. But above all, I am so proud. While others sit back and say "not MY son..." my family bravely steps up and defends our country. I hate it, but know I am safe in my home thanks to the bravery of these men and women.

A little ode to the 82nd airborne:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=706509679

(Pictured above: Phil, Mike Howie, Dave LaRosa. Lower:Mike Kent, Phil, Jimmy Lok)

A Wish List

2006-11-09T05:11:00.000-08:00

Behold!
A FO!
My silly teacozy hat. A silly hat for a very silly girl....

Dear Santa, I really have a lot to ask of you this year. Since CVS is already engorged with red and green wrapped candies, tinsel, and horrendous singing stuffed snowmen I thought of bringing my list early to you. So here goes:

1) Here’s a biggie: bring my youngest brother home, healthy, victorious and proud of the service he has done for his country. And if the democrats can accomplish this before you do, kudos to them. (Even better if they do it humbly.…)
2) An umbrella-my favorite umbrella, sad to say, has shit the bed. It was so darn cute too, black with little martini glasses.
3) Gift certificates to my favorite clothing stores. After feeling like a fuzzy ripe grape for nine months, some shnazzy new duds would give me the confidence I need.
4) The ability to tell my husband that a TV of gigantic proportions is not going to appear in our imminent future. Maybe never.
5) New feet. It appears that the extra weight I’m carrying has just plain worn out my old feet. If you could, Santa, bring me a pair of bouncy, springy new feet. With prettier toes than my last set, if possible.
6) That foxy brown velvety Michael Kors shoulder bag I saw in Lord & Taylor at lunch today. Even the brown paisley (yes even in dreaded paisley) one will do.
7) Music. I love music. I want to hear it throughout the house. I want my babbakins to grow up familiar with Chopin, Mussorgsky, and such just like I did.
8) Peace on earth? Screw that. There will never be peace on earth, and if there could be, who would want it anyway. If life was always beautiful and kind, and suffering didn’t exist we would thrive, overpopulate, and consume everything in sight. So it would be, say, 50 years of peace at the price of total and immediate world devastation. So call me selfish, but to hell with wishing for world peace. I think the only purity in this world that exists anyways is in the balance and cruelty of nature.
9) A sling to hold up my enormous baby bump for the last month of pregnancy.
10) Continued health, comfort and happiness for my family and friends, yadda yadda yadda. And for my enemies, each a fridge full of rotten eggs. With 800 pounds of cole slaw. Just because they wouldn’t know what to do with all that slaw. That would get ‘em good.
11) For that nasty girl that spread rumors about me at work, dragged me through the torment of her pathetic dating sagas, made fun of my laugh, tried to copy my clothing, announced to people that I was throwing her a surprise 30th birthday party before I even knew I was throwing it, and took a personal stab at a good friend of mine, even MORE cole slaw. Hah!
12) A half pound of cole slaw, light on the cream. Yum.
13) A healthy little boy.

Channeling the Domestic Goddess in Me

2006-11-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

Call it nesting, or what you will, but I had a domestic goddess moment over the weekend. Actually, you could call it a barefoot-pregnant-in-the-kitchen moment.

My hon was working his drill weekend at the JAG office (making the best darned coffee in the National Guard, so we say) and I was home in a tizzy. A few nights before I had attempted to make my apple spice bundt cake for a dinner with the Fab 5. Fab 5? JAG office? I should start a glossary of Heather-terms. Perhaps it was because I was baking at 11 at night, or perhaps those hormones just got in the way, but I forgot to spray the bundt pan, and my lovely cake was a disaster. In crumbles.

So I haphazardly tossed some chopped apples and raspberries in two pie plates with some brown sugar, rum, and nutmeg and baked them at 350 for 20 minutes. I then topped them with the crumbled cake and some chopped walnuts and baked for another 20 minutes. And so channeled my inner domestic goddess. Success! And the house smelled pretty damn good.

Proud of my ingenuity, I wandered down to Plymouth center and did some shopping. Along the way I came face to face with THE TURKEY.

A few weeks ago Phil loved this turkey when he saw it in the gift shop. He had to have it. So now its a fixture in our home- it will probably have a name soon. We'll see...